WASHINGTON – New York may be the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana, but it still remains illegal in the federal books.
Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (D, NY-18) supports decriminalization on the federal level.
“There is a federal issue with the controlled substances act that we need to address that will take marijuana off what I think is schedule 1A, which will remove the specter of federal prosecution of entities that are doing business in this area, who could theoretically be considered money launderers or doing something illegal under federal law,” he said.
Up to now, the Justice Department has made clear that it does not intend to prosecute entities that are working under valid state laws, Maloney said.
