Jeff Sessions unleashes federal prosecutors on legal marijuana

It's a rollback of Obama-era rules. No Images? Click here         Jeff Sessions Unleashes Federal Prosecutors On Legal Marijuana​ Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a vocal and longtime opponent of marijuana, will allow the nation’s top federal prosecutors to decide how to handle marijuana cases in states where the drug has been legalized. The Justice Department decision, announced on Thursday, immediately caused chaos in an industry that has been growing in recent years as some states have embracedmarijuana legalization, and sent stock prices of large cannabis companies nosediving as much as 35 percent. It will likely leave those in legal marijuana businesses uncertain whether the U.S. attorney in their district will resume enforcing federal law, which still regards marijuana as illegal. Sessions rescinded four memos issued during the Obama administration that outlined guidelines to help federal prosecutors decide whether to enforce laws against marijuana growers and sellers in states where the drug is legal. The guidance effectively discouraged federal prosecution of those who were following state laws. One Justice Department official called Sessions’s decision a “return to the rule of law.” But DOJ officials struggled to explain the implications of the policy in a background briefing with reporters on Thursday, and offered little direction for the state-legal marijuana industry.  READ MORE     WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has proposed a sweeping new offshore drilling plan aimed at opening huge swaths of the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans to oil exploration as part of the Trump administration’s plan to transform the United States into a fossil fuel juggernaut. READ MORE Republican David Yancey won a tied election for a Virginia House of Delegates seat when state officials picked his name out of a bowl. The name drawing settles the disputed election for the 94th District seat, at least for now, and allows Republicans to maintain control of the Virginia House of Delegates. READ MORE President Donald Trump’s campaign to roll back the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance reforms just took a step forward. It could mean cheaper, skimpier coverage for healthy people — and higher costs for others. READ MORE    .     ICYMI President Trump is pushing voter ID laws after disbanding his voter fraud panel. The commission was criticized for perpetuating Trump’s unfounded claim of widespread voter fraud.   Can anyone prevent Trump from ordering a nuclear strike? Here's what the experts say.   We found the neo-Nazi Twitter account tied to a Virginia double homicide. The teen behind it wrote about race war, convincing transgender people to kill themselves, and using Jews as target practice.    . Want more?  Steve Bannon Tries To Mend Ties With Trump, After Trump All But Erases Him Trump Lawyer Moves To Block Explosive Book On White House From Publication Ivanka Trump Reportedly Imagined Herself As The First Female President     How will Trump’s administration impact you? Sign up for our email and find out. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Want more? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: The Morning Email and Must Reads. ©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe    . - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe