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REASON OF INSANITY.
>>> THIS JUST INTO US HERE FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
FOR NOW, THE FEDS ARE NOT GOING
TO OVERTURN THESE NEW
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LAWS IN
COLORADO, WASHINGTON STATE AND,
IN FACT, THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE WON'T TRY TO BLOCK NEW
STATE LAWS THAT LEGALIZE
MARIJUANA.
REMEMBER THIS?
JUST ABOUT TEN MONTHS AGO,
VOTERS IN COLORADO AND
WASHINGTON STATE APPROVED
LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL
MARIJUANA.
AND SINCE THEN, YOU'VE HAD
LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH STATES,
THEY'VE BEEN ASKING THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT FOR GUIDANCE.
HOW WOULD THIS WORK?
FEDERAL LAW, AS YOU KNOW, BANS
ALL POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN STATE
MARIJUANA LAWS CLASH WITH
FEDERAL LAWS?
JUSTICE REPORTER EVAN PEREZ IS
ON THIS FROM WASHINGTON.
BIG NEWS, EVAN, FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
>> Reporter: RIGHT.
THIS HAS BEEN ANTICIPATED FOR
SEVERAL MONTHS.
HOTLY DEBATED INSIDE THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS SAYING IN THESE
STATES WHERE THEY'VE PASSED
THESE LAWS TO ALLOW RECREATIONAL
USE AND STATES WHERE THEY ALLOW
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA, THE FEDS
ARE NOT ESSENTIALLY GOING TO GET
INVOLVED WITH RECREATIONAL USE
OR MEDICINAL USE.
ESSENTIALLY THEY'RE GOING TO
FOCUS ON EIGHT PRIORITIES.
KEEPING POT OUT OF THE HANDS OF
MINORS.
MAKING SURE THAT -- THAT IT'S
NOT BEING TRAFFICKED ACROSS
STATE LINES.
AND THAT DRUG CARTELS AREN'T --
AREN'T INVOLVED IN THE MARIJUANA
TRADE.
IF YOU STEER CLEAR OF THESE
AREAS, THE FEDS ARE SAYING,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME AFTER
YOU.
>> HMM.
WHAT ABOUT THE AGENTS WHO WOULD
NORMALLY -- WOULD NORMALLY COME
AFTER YOU, EVEN THOUGH NOW IT'S
LEGAL IN THESE STATES?
DOES THIS ESSENTIALLY MAKE THEIR
JOB EASIER, OR NO?
>> WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN HOTLY
DEBATED INSIDE THE JUSTICE THE
PRESIDENT.
THE DEA IN PARTICULAR, YOU HAVE
AGENTS WHO SAY THIS SENDS MIXED
MESSAGES.
THAT IT MAKES THEIR JOB A LOT
HARDER.
AND THIS IS ONE REASON WHY THE
FEDS ESSENTIALLY DID NOT GO THE
ADDITIONAL STEP.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF
PRESSURE TO CHANGE MARIJUANA
FROM BEING A BANNED SUBSTANCE
UNDER THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
ACT.
AND THIS DID NOT HAPPEN.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING