Minnesota Sheriff Not Happy DOJ Won't Challenge Marijuana Laws in Colorado and Washington

Says keeping communities safe will be more difficult as a result

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that it does not intend to challenge policies in Colorado and Washington state that legalized the sale and recreational use of marijuana to adults — despite the fact that these state laws are in opposition to federal law.

As president of the Major County Sheriffs' Association, I have joined a broad coalition of law enforcement officers from across the country to express our extreme disappointment with this unprecedented decision.

A letter of opposition to the DOJ and the White House was endorsed by the association, along with the following law enforcement groups: the National Sheriffs' Association, the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Narcotic Officers Associations' Coalition, the Major Cities Chiefs Police Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum.