California Commissioner Condemns Session’s Move Against Legal Pot

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is not happy with U.S. Attorney General Sessions’ recent marijuana enforcement memo rescinding Obama administration guidance that enabled states to legalize marijuana without federal intervention.

Recreational marijuana became legal for adults in California on Jan. 1. Jones has been working to get more insurers into the market for insuring marijuana related businesses.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms Attorney General Jeff Sessions decision to rescind the Cole Memorandum,” Jones said in a statement issued late Thursday. “California voters decided to legalize adult use of cannabis in 2016. I stand with the voters of California in defending California’s efforts to legalize cannabis.

Jones said Session’s decision is contrary to good law enforcement practice for the federal Department of Justice to waste time and resources going after legitimate cannabis businesses and consumers in California.

“Continuing the War on Cannabis, which swept up tens of thousands of people for non-serious non-violent crimes and threw them into prisons for inordinately long sentences where they were taught to be better criminals, is not being smart on crime,” Jones said. “Placing numerous businesses, consumers, and medical patients at risk is not a responsible decision. California should and will litigate to defend its right to legalize and regulate cannabis.”

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