FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Jan. 10,
2018
Contact:
Robbie
Sherwood
480-246-7944
rsherwood@azleg.gov
PHOENIX, State Capitol
– Rep. Mark
Cardenas has introduced legislation to protect Arizona's growing and much-needed
medical marijuana industry from recent Trump Administration threats to prosecute
people in states that have made cannabis legal.
"Last week Attorney General Jeff Sessions inexplicably
attacked the growing cannabis industry nationwide, so I'm taking steps to
protect 157,000 patents in Arizona who desperately need this medicine to live
with debilitating illnesses like PTSD and cancer," Cardenas said. "This move by
Sessions makes no sense from a law enforcement, medical, human or economic
perspective, so Arizona leaders should not just sit still and let it happen."
Cardenas' bill – House Bill 2144 -- will prevent any
state or local law enforcement agencies from assisting federal law enforcement
that might try to investigate, detain or prosecute any Arizona residents working
legally in the industry under Arizona's Medical Marijuana Act, or who possess or
are prescribed the medicine.
Arizona became the 14th state to allow medical
marijuana when Arizona Medical Marijuana Act that went into effect in 2011.
Since then, Arizona's cannabis industry has grown, and dispensaries now serve
more than 157,000 patients with conditions ranging from seizures to PTSD,
according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
On Thursday, AG Sessions announced the withdrawal of
federal guidelines that limited prosecutions of individuals and businesses that
sold legalized marijuana. A memo released by the Department of Justice on
Thursday called for “the rescission of previous guidance documents.”
While marijuana is still not legal under federal law, under
President Obama the DOJ's 2013 Cole Memo instructed law enforcement and
prosecutors not to prosecute medical marijuana users and providers in states
operating well-regulated dispensary programs like Arizona's.
"The Sessions decision is out of step with where we are as
a country on this issue, and it is causing undue stress for patients and those
employed in the cannabis industry," Cardenas said. "The people of Arizona voted
for the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act and support its health and economic
benefits, and I am working to protect them."
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