Congress responds to Sessions, U.S. Attorneys weigh in, Vermont goes legal, marijuana money & more

Jan. 12: Congress responds to Sessions, U.S. Attorneys weigh in, Vermont goes legal, marijuana money & more [The Cannabist]( [thecannabist.co]( | [@cannabist]( | [fb/cannabist]( If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to sign up yourself, just go here: [(. To view this on the web or share a link, [click here.]( Congress takes action to respond to Sessions' marijuana policy shift Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette [convened the state's congressional to discuss new federal marijuana protections](. Nearly 70 Congress members are pushing [the McClintock-Polis spending bill amendment to protect state-legalized marijuana of all kinds.]( Colorado's Republican Senator [Cory Gardner had a marijuana policy meeting with Jeff Sessions](. It didn't go well. [Alaska lawmakers are looking to separate federal, state marijuana regulations](. U.S. Attorneys weigh in Colorado congressional members say they have been [assured by their state's U.S. Attorney that marijuana prosecutions won't increase.]( However, Oregon's U.S. Attorney [says he has "significant concerns" about state's marijuana regs and enforcement](. And [Massachusetts' federal prosecutor said]( he "cannot provide assurances" for legal marijuana businesses. Meanwhile, [marijuana users are "not a priority" for Maine's U.S. Attorney](. Vermont The [Vermont Senate gave final approval to a bill that would allow the recreational use of marijuana.]( [Vermont Gov. Scott has confirmed he will sign the bill](, after he [vetoed a previous version last May.]( His signature would make the state the first in the country to legalize adult-use cannabis by an act of the Legislature rather than a ballot measure approved by voters. Marijuana Money [Colorado marijuana shops rang up nearly $120 million in sales in November](, bringing the total for 11 months to $1.38 billion and surpassing the 12-month total from 2016. Sales were down from October, but up 9.5% from last November. U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner of Colorado have [asked the U.S. Treasury to keep in place Obama-era rules that allow banks to serve marijuana companies](. A new study says [legalizing marijuana nationally could generate more than $132 billion in tax revenue and 1 million jobs]( over the next decade. [Rhode Island medical marijuana stores that bank in Massachusetts lost their debit card privileges]( after the bank got spooked by statements by the Mass. U.S. Attorney mentioned above. Colorado police agencies, [armed with $21M in marijuana tax revenue,]( are trying to steer mentally ill, drug addicted people into recovery programs and away from jail. More U.S. News - [The attorney for the Sweet Leaf budtenders arrested in December has filed to dismiss their felony marijuana charges](. - [Op-ed: New Hampshire's governor won't sign the marijuana legalization bill. And that's a good thing](. - [The California couple busted in Nebraska last month with weed “gifts” was arrested again on way home]( - [Iowa taxpayers will have to pick up the huge legal tab for Iowa State University’s attempt to ban a student group's pro-marijuana t-shirt](. - [A California bill would automatically erase prior marijuana convictions](. - [New Jersey marijuana legalization bill has been introduced](. Things to Think About [If the U.S. legalizes marijuana, what happens to its international drug treaties?]( [Some Trump supporters who also like weed feel torn allegiance]( [Americans strongly oppose enforcement of federal marijuana laws, few approve of Jeff Sessions: new Quinnipiac poll]( [Op-ed: Jeff Sessions is a hypocrite on states' rights. But so is everyone else.]( You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up at The Denver Post. Please add "members@mail.denverpost.com" and "members@direct.denverpost.com" to your trusted senders list. To unsubscribe from this mailing, [click here.]( To change your e-mail preferences, [click here](. To view this newsletter on the web [click here.]( The Denver Post 101 West Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80202