Colorado is fighting back against a letter from Jeff Sessions criticizing the state’s marijuana laws.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and Attorney General Cynthia Coffman have joined Oregon, Alaska, and Washington in pushing back against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recent letter criticizing state legal marijuana.
Hickenlooper and Coffman have sent a letter of their own in response to Sessions. In defense of Colorado’s legal marijuana, the letter states that “our system has proven to be effective.”
But simply defending the success of legal marijuana in Colorado was not the only thing Hickenlooper and Coffman did. The letter encourages federal authorities to work with Colorado in order to “fortify” Colorados marijuana program.
“We believe the objectives underlying our regulatory and enforcement system are aligned with the federal government’s desire to control the production and sale of marijuana and to protect public safety and public health. We are committed to working with you to strengthen our system and are prepared to continue engaging in collaborative enforcement efforts,” the letter read.
The letter goes on to address a number of concerns about the marijuana industry, including access to children.
“We also share your concerns regarding the effect of marijuana legalization on youth. Keeping marijuana out of the hands of Colorado’s children is of the utmost importance to us,” the letter stated. “Multiple data sources indicate that youth marijuana use in Colorado has remained stable following legalization.”
Hickenlooper was initially skeptical of legalizing recreational marijuana. But he has acknowledged that Colorado residents have made their intentions clear by voting to legalize recreational use.
“The State of Colorado has worked diligently to implement the will of our citizens and build a comprehensive regulatory and enforcement system,” Hickenlooper and Coffman wrote.
Residents in eight states have already approved recreational marijuana with more expected to do so next year. Sessions’ uphill battle against the will of Americans may only get steeper.
