AG Nominee Opposed to Cannabis Legalization

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Cannabis businesses may face obstacles if Loretta Lynch is confirmed as the next U.S. attorney general.

Lynch, who has been nominated to succeed Eric Holder, said during a confirmation hearing that she doesn’t support marijuana legalization and disagrees with President Barack Obama’s stance that cannabis is safer than alcohol.

Lynch’s stance is important, as the attorney general has the power to declassify cannabis as a Schedule I drug.

A White House official responded to Lynch’s statements, telling Buzzfeed News that prosecuting users, especially those with serious illnesses, is “not the best allocation of limited” law enforcement resources.

The current administration has publicly said it opposes the legalization of marijuana but that it won’t expend resources cracking down in states that have legalized MMJ or recreational cannabis and strict regulations on the industry.