The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming says the Department of Justice “rescinded” previous guidance under Biden.
The Trump administration won’t be giving Americans who possess personal amounts of cannabis a free pass, apparently directing U.S. district attorneys’ offices to enforce federal prohibition laws.
At least that’s according to Darin Smith, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming, who said on Nov. 13 that his office notified federal law enforcement agencies in his jurisdiction to start “rigorously” prosecuting cannabis offenses occurring on federal land, such as national parks.
Smith’s office indicated this policy change resulted from a Sept. 29 memo from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which he said rescinded Biden-era “guidance” of taking a hands-off approach to simple cannabis possession offenses.
Although Biden became the first president to issue categorical pardons to individuals convicted of simple use and possession of cannabis, his administration never provided guidance to U.S. federal prosecutors related to the issue – at least not publicly.
Smith indicated that Trump’s DOJ put the power back in his other U.S. attorneys’ hands.
“Marijuana possession remains a federal crime in the United States, irrespective of varying state laws,” Smith said in a press release. “The detrimental effects of drugs on our society are undeniable, and I am committed to using every prosecutorial tool available to hold offenders accountable.”
Read the full article at Cannabis Business Times
