"What we said in the memo we still intend, which is that given the limited resources that we have, and if there are states that have medical marijuana provisions... if in fact people are not using the policy decision that we have made to use marijuana in a way that's not consistent with the state statute, we will not use our limited resources in that way," Holder said.
Under the measure, adults can be in possession of 2.5 ounces of marijuana, a provision similar to the state's medical marijuana law that was approved in 2008.
Most significantly, in 2008, Sensible Colorado spearheaded a court challenge to expand the state's medical marijuana "caregiver" provision to allow for retail sales.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy, which is more commonly known as the drug czar's office, also determined that it couldn't publicly support decriminalizing marijuana because of a provision in the legislation that authorized its existence.
Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Joe Clark gave a speech announcing his government's intent to reform the Criminal Code provisions on marijuana, but the government was ousted before these changes could be made.
Key ballot measures passed on Election Day beefed up gun control in Washington, California, and even libertarian-leaning Nevada; provisions loosening marijuana laws passed in eight of the nine states where they were on the ballot; and voters in Colorado, Maine, and Arizona approved increases to the minimum wage.
We do it in New Jersey," he said — but Paul countered that the enforcement of federal cannabis laws means the threat of jail time for all users, since no federal provision for medical marijuana exists.
The inclusion of the provision blocking DC's marijuana law is a victory for Maryland Republican Rep. Andy Harris, who has been leading the crusade against legal weed in the nation's capital.
On June 11, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down a provision in the country's medical marijuana law prohibiting the possession of marijuana extracts.
