The spring weather is certainly warming up in Vancouver, but the latest cannabis news out of Washington, D.C. has us wondering if Hell has indeed frozen over.
According to a report from Marijuana Moment, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions seems to have changed his tune on whether or not medical cannabis is an indeed medicine.
Earlier today during an appearance before the Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice and Science subcommittee, Sessions admitted that ‘there may well be some benefits from medical marijuana’, and added that the study of cannabis is ‘perfectly appropriate.’
However, Sessions’ recognition came with a few disclaimers. Marijuana Moment reporter Tom Angell wrote that while Sessions said he had seen research that showed lower overdose rates in states with legal cannabis, he told the Senate he didn’t believe that the trend was sustainable.
Despite his reservations about cannabis and the opioid crisis, Sessions did tell the subcommittee that the federal government intends to allow more entities to produce cannabis for research purposes in the near future.
‘The paperwork and reviews will be completed and we will add additional suppliers of marijuana under the controlled circumstances,’ he said, without mentioning a timeline.
At one point, the Attorney General even told the committee that cannabis is not a priority for federal drug agents: ‘Our priorities are fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine. People are dying by massive amounts as a result of those drugs. We have very few, almost zero, virtually zero small marijuana cases,’ he said.
But as a man of the law, Sessions reiterated that those conducting illegal business in the eyes of the federal government could still be subjected to punishment.
“If they are a big deal and illegally acting, and violating federal law, our agents may work that case.”
