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Polis Says Amendment Will Protect Marijuana from Sessions

Hope to attach to spending bill for Justice Department

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Co., is hoping to protect legal marijuana in his state.from Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. Jared Polis, D-Co., is hoping to protect legal marijuana in his state.from Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis teamed up with Republican Rep. Tom McClintock to protect marijuana businesses in his state from Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Polis and McClintock, whose home state of California voted to legalize recreational marijuana last year, hope to attach their amendment to the spending bill for the U.S Justice Department. 

“If we successfully attach it and it becomes law, no attorney general — despite what they might want to do — would be able to use the funds that Congress gave them to crack down on activities that are legal under state law with regard to marijuana,” Polis told Denverite.

The amendment comes as Sessions gave a speech on Wednesday saying, “I reject the idea that America will be a better place if marijuana is sold in every corner store.”

Polis said Sessions was using a “straw man.”

“Obviously, in Colorado marijuana is not sold in every corner store. That’s ridiculous,” he said.

A previous version of the amendment failed to pass the House in 2015.

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