The​ ​Cole​ ​Memo:​ ​4​ ​Years​ ​Later 
Status​ ​Report​ ​on​ ​State​ ​Compliance​ ​of​ ​Federal 
Marijuana​ ​Enforcement​ ​Policy 

 

 

 
www.learnaboutsam.org 
August​ ​30,​ ​2017 
 

 

  

 

Background 
On​ ​August​ ​29,​ ​2013,​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Justice​ ​(DOJ)​ ​issued​ ​guidelines​ ​to​ ​Federal 
prosecutors​ ​and​ ​law​ ​enforcement​ ​officials​ ​regarding​ ​where​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​their​ ​drug​ ​enforcement 
efforts​ ​in​ ​states​ ​that​ ​have​ ​passed​ ​laws​ ​legalizing​ ​the​ ​retail​ ​sales​ ​of​ ​marijuana.​ ​The​ ​so-called 
“Cole​ ​Memo”​​ ​directs​ ​enforcement​ ​officials​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​resources,​ ​including​ ​prosecutions,​ ​“on 
persons​ ​and​ ​organizations​ ​whose​ ​conduct​ ​interferes​ ​with​ ​any​ ​one​ ​or​ ​more​ ​of​ ​[eight]​ ​priorities, 
regardless​ ​of​ ​state​ ​law.”​ ​ ​Per​ ​the​ ​memorandum,​ ​the​ ​eight​ ​DOJ​ ​priorities​ ​are:  
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Preventing​ ​distribution​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​to​ ​minors 

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Preventing​ ​marijuana​ ​revenue​ ​from​ ​funding​ ​criminal​ ​enterprises,​ ​gangs​ ​or​ ​cartels 

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Preventing​ ​marijuana​ ​from​ ​moving​ ​out​ ​of​ ​states​ ​where​ ​it​ ​is​ ​legal 

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Preventing​ ​use​ ​of​ ​state-legal​ ​marijuana​ ​sales​ ​as​ ​a​ ​cover​ ​for​ ​illegal​ ​activity 

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Preventing​ ​violence​ ​and​ ​use​ ​of​ ​firearms​ ​in​ ​growing​ ​or​ ​distributing​ ​marijuana 

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Preventing​ ​drugged​ ​driving​ ​or​ ​exacerbation​ ​of​ ​other​ ​adverse​ ​public​ ​health 
consequences​ ​associated​ ​with​ ​marijuana​ ​use 

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Preventing​ ​growing​ ​marijuana​ ​on​ ​public​ ​lands 

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Preventing​ ​marijuana​ ​possession​ ​or​ ​use​ ​on​ ​federal​ ​property 

According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Justice,​ ​the​ ​Federal​ ​“hands-off”​ ​approach​ ​to​ ​marijuana 
enforcement​ ​enumerated​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Cole​ ​Memo​ ​is​ ​contingent​ ​on​ ​its​ ​expectation​ ​that​ ​“states​ ​and 
local​ ​governments​ ​that​ ​have​ ​enacted​ ​laws​ ​authorizing​ ​marijuana-related​ ​conduct​ ​will​ ​implement 
strong​ ​and​ ​effective​ ​regulatory​ ​and​ ​enforcement​ ​systems​ ​that​ ​will​ ​address​ ​the​ ​threat​ ​those 
state​ ​laws​ ​could​ ​pose​ ​to​ ​public​ ​safety,​ ​public​ ​health,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​law​ ​enforcement​ ​interests.​ ​A 
system​ ​adequate​ ​to​ ​that​ ​task​ ​must​ ​not​ ​only​ ​contain​ ​robust​ ​controls​ ​and​ ​procedures​ ​on​ ​paper,​ ​it 
must​ ​also​ ​be​ ​effective​ ​in​ ​practice.”  
Unfortunately,​ ​since​ ​Colorado​ ​and​ ​Washington​ ​became​ ​the​ ​first​ ​states​ ​to​ ​legalize​ ​the 
recreational​ ​sale​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​in​ ​2012,​ ​evidence​ ​has​ ​emerged​ ​that​ ​regulations​ ​intended​ ​to 
control​ ​the​ ​sale​ ​and​ ​use​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​have​ ​failed​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the​ ​promises​ ​made​ ​by​ ​advocates​ ​for 
legalization.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​states​ ​with​ ​legal​ ​marijuana​ ​are​ ​seeing​ ​an​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​drugged​ ​driving 
crashes​​ ​and​ y​ outh​ ​marijuana​ ​use​.​ ​States​ ​that​ ​have​ ​legalized​ ​marijuana​ ​are​ ​also​ ​failing​ ​to​ ​shore 
up​ ​state​ ​budget​ ​shortfalls​​ ​with​ ​marijuana​ ​taxes,​ ​continuing​ ​to​ ​see​ ​a​ ​thriving​ ​illegal​ ​black​ ​market​, 

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and​ ​are​ ​experiencing​ ​an​ u
​ nabated​ ​sales​ ​of​ ​alcohol​,​ ​despite​ ​campaign​ ​promises​ ​from​ ​advocates 
promising​ ​that​ ​marijuana​ ​would​ ​be​ ​used​ ​as​ ​a​ ​“safer”​ ​alternative​ ​instead.   
Moreover,​ ​state​ ​regulatory​ ​frameworks​ ​established​ ​post-legalization​ ​have​ ​failed​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​each​ ​of 
the​ ​specific​ ​DOJ​ ​requirements​ ​on​ ​controlling​ ​recreational​ ​marijuana​ ​production,​ ​distribution,​ ​and 
use.​ ​While​ ​long-term​ ​studies​ ​and​ ​research​ ​on​ ​the​ ​public​ ​health​ ​and​ ​safety​ ​impacts​ ​of​ ​marijuana 
legalization​ ​are​ ​ongoing,​ ​this​ ​report​ ​provides​ ​a​ ​partial​ ​census​ ​of​ ​readily​ ​available​ ​information 
that​ ​demonstrates​ ​how​ ​Colorado,​ ​Oregon,​ ​and​ ​Washington​ ​State​ ​-​ ​the​ ​jurisdictions​ ​with​ ​the 
most​ ​mature​ ​regulatory​ ​markets​ ​and​ ​schemes​ ​-​ ​have​ ​not​ ​fulfilled​ ​the​ ​requirements​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Cole 
Memo.   
 

DOJ​ ​Guideline​ ​1:​ ​“​Preventing​ ​distribution​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​to​ ​minors” 
 
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According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​nation's​ ​largest​ ​and​ ​most​ ​comprehensive​​ s
​ urvey​ ​of​ ​drug​ ​use​ ​trends​ ​in 
the​ ​nation​,​ ​past-month​ ​use​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​among​ ​12​ ​to​ ​17-year-olds​ ​in​ ​Colorado​​ i​ ncreased 
significantly​ ​-​ ​from​ ​9.82%​ ​to​ ​12.56%​​ ​after​ ​marijuana​ ​retail​ ​sales​ ​began​ ​(Colorado 
legalized​ ​marijuana​ ​in​ ​2012​ ​and​ ​implemented​ ​legal​ ​marijuana​ ​stores​ ​in​ ​2014).​ ​The​ ​same 
study​ ​notes​ ​that​ ​teens​ ​and​ ​adults​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ ​now​ ​use​ ​marijuana​ ​at​ ​a​ ​higher​ ​rate​ ​than 
the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​the​ ​country.​ ​No​ ​other​ ​representative​ ​sample​ ​of​ ​drug​ ​users​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ ​has 
contradicted​ ​this​ ​sample. 

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A​ ​2017​ ​study​ ​from​ ​the​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Colorado​ ​found​ ​that​ ​marijuana-related​ ​emergency 
room​ ​visits​ ​and​ ​visits​ ​to​ ​its​ ​satellite​ ​urgent​ ​care​ ​centers​ ​by​ ​teens​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ ​more​ ​than 
quadrupled​​ ​after​ ​the​ ​state​ ​legalized​ ​marijuana.   

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In​ ​Colorado,​ ​a​ ​new​ ​report​ ​from​ ​the​ ​state’s​ ​public​ ​safety​ ​agency​​ ​reveals​ ​that​ ​after​ ​the 
state​ ​legalized​ ​the​ ​drug,​ ​marijuana-related​ ​arrests​ ​for​ ​black​ ​and​ ​Hispanic​ ​youth​ ​rose​ ​by 
58%​ ​and​ ​29%​ ​respectively​,​ ​while​ ​arrest​ ​rates​ ​for​ ​white​ ​kids​ ​dropped​ ​by​ ​eight​ ​percent. 
School​ ​Resource​ ​Officers​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ ​have​ ​reported​ ​a​ ​substantial​ ​increase​ ​in 
marijuana-related​ ​offenses​​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ ​schools​ ​after​ ​the​ ​state​ ​commercialized​ ​the​ ​drug. 

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According​ ​to​ ​data​ ​from​ ​the​ ​State​ ​of​ ​Washington,​ ​there​ ​have​ ​been​ ​over​ ​240​ ​violations​​ ​of 
legal​ ​marijuana​ ​sales​ ​to​ ​minors​ ​and​ ​of​ ​minors​ ​frequenting​ ​restricted​ ​marijuana​ ​sales 
areas​ ​as​ ​of​ ​July​ ​2017. 

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Youth​ ​use​ ​–​ ​among​ ​8​th​​ ​and​ ​10​th​​ ​graders​ ​at​ ​least​ ​–​ ​ ​is​ ​increasing​ ​in​ ​Washington​ ​State. 
According​ ​to​ ​a​ ​special​ ​analysis​ ​of​ ​teenage​ ​drug​ ​use​ ​published​ ​in​ ​the​ ​peer-reviewed, 
highly​ ​regarded​​ ​Journal​ ​of​ ​American​ ​Medical​ ​Association​ ​Pediatrics​,​ ​the​ ​perceived 

 

 

  

 

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harmfulness​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​in​ ​Washington​ ​declined​ ​14.2%​ ​and​ ​16.1%​ ​among​ ​eighth​ ​and 
10th​ ​graders,​ ​respectively,​ ​while​ ​marijuana​ ​use​ ​increased​ ​2.0%​ ​and​ ​4.1%​ ​from​ ​2010-2012 
to​ ​2013-2015. 

 
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According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Washington​ ​State​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Superintendent​ ​of​ ​Public​ ​Instruction 
during​ ​2013-2014,​ ​48​ ​percent​ ​of​ ​statewide​ ​student​ ​expulsions​ ​were​ ​for​ ​marijuana​ ​in 
comparison​ ​to​ ​alcohol,​ ​tobacco,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​illicit​ ​drugs.​ ​During​ ​the​ ​2014-2015​ ​school 
year,​ ​statewide​ ​student​ ​expulsions​ ​for​ ​marijuana​ ​increased​ ​to​ ​60​ ​percent.​ ​Marijuana 
related​ ​suspensions​ ​for​ ​the​ ​2013-2014​ ​school​ ​year​ ​reported​ ​42​ ​percent​ ​and​ ​for​ ​the 
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2014-2015​ ​school​ ​year,​ ​suspensions​ ​increased​ ​to​ ​49​ ​percent.  

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In​ ​Washington​ ​State,​ ​youth​ ​(12-17)​ ​accounted​ ​for​ ​64.9%​ ​of​ ​all​ ​state​ ​marijuana​ ​seizures​ ​in 
2015​ ​as​ ​compared​ ​to​ ​29.9%​ ​in​ ​2010,​ ​according​ ​to​ ​data​ ​from​ ​the​ ​National​ ​Incident​ ​Based 
Reporting​ ​System​ ​(NIBRS).  

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From​ ​2012​ ​to​ ​2016,​ ​reported​ ​exposure​ ​calls​ ​for​ ​marijuana​ ​increased​ ​105​ ​percent​ ​in 
Washington.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​2016​ ​Annual​ ​Cannabis​ ​Toxic​ ​Trends​ ​Report,​ ​of​ ​exposures 
related​ ​to​ ​children​ ​under​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​five,​ ​73​ ​percent​ ​occurred​ ​in​ ​those​ ​one​ ​to​ ​three​ ​years 
of​ ​age.​ ​The​ ​counties​ ​with​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​reported​ ​exposures​ ​for​ ​both​ ​2015​ ​and​ ​2016​ ​were: 
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King,​ ​Spokane,​ ​Snohomish,​ ​and​ ​Pierce.​ ​  

 

 

 

DOJ​ ​Guideline​ ​2:​ “​ Preventing​ ​revenue​ ​of​ ​the​ ​sale​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​from​ ​going​ ​to​ ​criminal 
enterprises,​ ​gangs,​ ​and​ ​cartels” 
 
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In​ ​June​ ​2017,​ ​Colorado​ ​Attorney​ ​General​ ​Cynthia​ ​Coffman​ ​announced​ a
​ ​ ​takedown​ ​of​ ​a 
massive​ ​illegal​ ​marijuana​ ​trafficking​ ​ring​ ​in​ ​Colorado.​ ​The​ ​bust​ ​is​ ​the​ ​largest​ ​since 
legalization​ ​and​ ​indicted​ ​62​ ​individuals​ ​and​ ​12​ ​businesses​ ​in​ ​Colorado.​ ​The​ ​operation 
stretched​ ​into​ ​other​ ​states​ ​including​ ​Kansas,​ ​Texas,​ ​Nebraska,​ ​Ohio​ ​and​ ​Oklahoma. 

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In​ ​March​ ​2017,​ ​a​ ​leaked​ r​ eport​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Oregon​ ​State​ ​Police​ ​uncovered​ ​evidence​ ​from 
state​ ​officials​ ​that​ ​the​ ​black​ ​market​ ​for​ ​marijuana​ ​continues​ ​to​ ​thrive​ ​in​ ​the​ ​state​.​ ​The 
39-page​ ​report​ ​noted​ ​that,​ ​“The​ ​illicit​ ​exportation​ ​of​ ​cannabis​ ​must​ ​be​ ​stemmed​ ​as​ ​it 
undermines​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​of​ ​the​ ​law​ ​and​ ​the​ ​integrity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​legal​ ​market...it​ ​steals​ ​economic 
power​ ​from​ ​the​ ​market,​ ​the​ ​government,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​citizens​ ​of​ ​Oregon,​ ​and​ ​furnishes​ ​it​ ​to 
criminals,​ ​thereby​ ​tarnishing​ ​state​ ​compliance​ ​efforts.” 

 

 

​ ​Washington​ ​State​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Superintendent​ ​of​ ​Instruction.​ ​(2016,​ ​Jan.​ ​26).​ ​Behavior 
Report.​ ​http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/Behavior/default.aspx 
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​ ​Washington​ ​State​ ​Poison​ ​Center​ ​–​ ​Toxic​ ​Trends​ ​Report:​ ​2016​ ​Annual​ ​Cannabis​ ​Report 
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In​ ​2016,​ ​Seattle​ ​Police​ ​spokesman​ ​Sean​ ​Whitcomb​ ​noted​ ​that​​ ​“large-scale​ ​illegal​ ​grow 
operations…​ ​are​ ​still​ ​prevalent​ ​in​ ​Seattle,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​do​ ​come​ ​across​ ​those​ ​with​ ​a​ ​degree​ ​of 
frequency.”  
 

DOJ​ ​Guideline​ ​3:​ “​ Preventing​ ​the​ ​diversion​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​from​ ​states​ ​where​ ​it​ ​is​ ​legal 
under​ ​state​ ​law​ ​in​ ​some​ ​form​ ​to​ ​other​ ​states” 
 
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In​ ​2014,​ ​two​ ​states​ ​-​ ​Nebraska​ ​and​ ​Oklahoma​ ​-​ ​sued​ ​their​ ​neighbor​ ​state​ ​of​ ​Colorado​ ​by 
citing​ ​evidence​ ​of​ ​increased​ ​marijuana​ ​flowing​ ​into​ ​those​ ​states.​​ ​Law​ ​enforcement 
officials​ h
​ ave​ ​reported​ ​a​ ​substantial​ ​increase​​ ​in​ ​marijuana​ ​flow​ ​across​ ​state​ ​borders​ ​into 
neighboring​ ​states.  

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In​ ​2016,​ ​there​ ​were​ ​multiple​ ​raids​ ​conducted​ ​by​ ​state​ ​law​ ​enforcement​ ​in​ ​Colorado, 
leading​ ​authorities​ ​to​ ​seize​ m
​ ore​ ​than​ ​22,0000​ ​pounds​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​intended​ ​for​ ​sales 
outside​ ​of​ ​Colorado.  

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According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Oregon​ ​State​ ​Police,​ ​the​ ​state​ ​has​ ​an​ “​ expansive​ ​geographic​ ​footprint” 
on​ ​marijuana​ ​exports​ ​across​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​ ​Several​ ​counties​ ​in​ ​Oregon​ ​including​ ​Jackson, 
Multnomah,​ ​Josephine,​ ​Lane,​ ​Deschutes​ ​and​ ​Washington​ ​"lead​ ​the​ ​way"​ ​in​ ​supplying 
marijuana​ ​to​ ​states​ ​where​ ​it​ ​is​ ​not​ ​legal.  

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According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Rocky​ ​Mountain​ ​High​ ​Intensity​ ​Drug​ ​Trafficking​ ​Area​ ​task​ ​force​,​ ​“there 
were​ ​360​ ​seizures​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ ​destined​ ​for​ ​other​ ​states.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​nearly​ ​a 
600%​ ​increase​ i​ n​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of​ ​individual​ ​stops​ ​in​ ​a​ ​decade,​ ​seizing​ ​about​ ​3,671​ ​pounds 
in​ ​2014.​ ​Of​ ​the​ ​360​ ​seizures​ ​reported​ ​in​ ​2014,​ ​36​ ​different​ ​states​ ​were​ ​identified​ ​as 
destinations,​ ​the​ ​most​ ​common​ ​being​ ​Kansas,​ ​Missouri,​ ​Illinois,​ ​Oklahoma​ ​and​ ​Florida.” 

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Law​ ​enforcement​ ​officials​ ​report​ ​that​ ​since​ ​legalization​ ​in​ ​2012,​ ​Washington​ ​State 
marijuana​ ​has​ ​been​ ​found​ ​to​ ​be​ ​destined​ ​for​ ​38​ ​different​ ​states​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​United 
States.​ ​Between​ ​2012​ ​and​ ​2017,​ ​8,242.39​ ​kilograms​ ​(18,171.35​ ​pounds)​ ​have​ ​been 
seized​ ​in​ ​733​ ​individual​ ​seizure​ ​events​ ​across​ ​38​ ​states.​ ​From​ ​2012​ ​to​ ​2016,​ ​470​ ​pounds 
of​ ​marijuana​ ​have​ ​been​ ​seized​ ​on​ ​Washington​ ​State​ ​highways​ ​and​ ​interstates.​ ​Since 
2012,​ 3
​ 20​ ​pounds​​ ​of​ ​Washington​ ​State-origin​ ​marijuana​ ​have​ ​been​ ​seized​ ​during 
attempted​ ​parcel​ ​diversions. 

 

 

 

 

 

DOJ​ ​Guideline​ ​4:​ “​ Preventing​ ​state-authorized​ ​marijuana​ ​activity​ ​from​ ​being​ ​used​ ​as​ ​a 
cover​ ​or​ ​pretext​ ​for​ ​the​ ​trafficking​ ​of​ ​other​ ​illegal​ ​drugs​ ​or​ ​other​ ​illegal​ ​activity” 
 
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According​ ​to​ ​Jorge​ ​Duque​​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Colorado​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Law,​ ​cartels​ ​operating​ ​in 
Colorado​ ​are​ ​now​ ​“trading​ ​drugs​ ​like​ ​heroin​ ​for​ ​marijuana,”​ ​and​ ​the​ ​trade​ ​has​ ​since 
opened​ ​the​ ​door​ ​to​ ​drug​ ​and​ ​human​ ​trafficking.​ ​Duque​ ​also​ ​explains​ ​that​ ​money 
 

  

 

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laundering​ ​is​ ​a​ ​growing​ ​problem​ ​as​ ​“cartels​ ​are​ ​often​ ​disguising​ ​their​ ​money​ ​through 
legally​ ​purchasing​ ​marijuana​ ​or​ ​buying​ ​houses​ ​and​ ​growing​ ​marijuana​ ​in​ ​it.” 
 
In​ ​June​ ​2017,​ ​a​ ​former​ ​Colorado​ ​marijuana​ ​enforcement​ ​officer​ ​and​ ​a​ ​Denver-based 
marijuana​ ​entrepreneur​ w
​ ere​ ​indicted​​ ​for​ ​running​ ​a​ ​statewide​ ​marijuana​ ​trafficking​ ​ring 
that​ ​illegally​ ​produced​ ​and​ ​sold​ ​“millions​ ​of​ ​dollars​ ​worth​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​across​ ​state 
lines.”​ ​This​ ​trafficking​ ​organization​ o
​ btained​ ​14​ ​marijuana​ ​licenses​​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​present 
their​ ​activities​ ​as​ ​protected​ ​business​ ​endeavors,​ ​despite​ ​“​never​ ​ma[king]​ ​a​ ​single​ ​legal 
sale​ ​of​ ​cannabis​​ ​in​ ​their​ ​two​ ​years​ ​of​ ​operation.”  

 
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In​ ​Oregon,​ ​State​ ​Police​ ​officials​ r​ eport​ ​that​ ​criminals​ ​are​ ​exploiting​ ​Oregon’s​ ​legal 
marijuana​ ​industry​ ​for​ ​financial​ ​crimes​ ​and​ ​fraud.​ ​In​ ​one​ ​example,​ ​according​ ​to​ ​the 
Oregon​ ​State​ ​Police​ ​report,​ ​“Tisha​ ​Silver​ ​of​ ​Cannacea​ ​Medical​ ​Marijuana​ ​Dispensary 
falsified​ ​licensing​ ​to​ ​solicit​ ​investors​ ​and​ ​worked​ ​with​ ​Green​ ​Rush​ ​Consulting​ ​to​ ​locate 
unwitting​ ​investors.​ ​Silver​ ​exploited​ ​the​ ​burgeoning​ ​cannabis​ ​industry​ ​in​ ​the​ ​state​ ​to 
entice​ ​investors​ ​to​ ​back​ ​an​ ​illegitimate​ ​company,​ ​securing​ ​a​ ​quarter​ ​of​ ​a​ ​million​ ​dollars 
in​ ​fraudulent​ ​gains.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​some​ ​analysts,​ ​cannabis​ ​investors​ ​fell​ ​prey​ ​to​ ​‘pump 
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and​ ​dump’​ ​schemes​ ​and​ ​lost​ ​up​ ​to​ ​$23.3​ ​billion​ ​in​ ​2014​ ​alone.”  

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Officials​ ​in​ ​Oregon​ ​note​ ​that​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​Postal​ ​Service​ ​is​ ​being​ ​exploited​ ​to​ ​ship​ ​marijuana 
products​ ​and​ ​revenue.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​former​ ​Attorney​ ​General​ ​Eric​ ​Holder​,​ ​“The​ ​Postal 
Service​ ​is​ ​being​ ​used​ ​to​ ​facilitate​ ​drug​ ​dealing,”​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​violation​ ​of​ ​federal​ ​law​ ​and​ ​a 
violation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​sanctity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​mailing​ ​system. 

 

  

DOJ​ ​Guideline​ ​5:​ “​ Preventing​ ​violence​ ​and​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​firearms​ ​in​ ​the​ ​cultivation​ ​and 
distribution​ ​of​ ​marijuana” 
 
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While​ ​crime​ ​rates​ ​dropped​ ​or​ ​remained​ ​stable​ ​in​ ​many​ ​of​ ​the​ ​nation’s​ ​largest​ ​cities, 
Colorado’s​ ​crime​ ​rate​ i​ ncreased.​ ​There​ ​has​ ​been​ ​an​ ​increase​ ​in​​ ​rape,​ ​murder,​ ​robbery 
and​ ​auto​ ​thefts.​ ​ ​While​ ​it​ ​is​ ​not​ ​possible​ ​to​ ​link​ ​legalization​ ​to​ ​a​ ​direct​ ​change​ ​in​ ​crime 
rates,​ ​officials​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ c
​ ited​ ​marijuana​ ​legalization​​ ​as​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reasons​ ​behind​ ​the 
rise.  

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In​ ​Colorado,​ ​prosecutors​ ​are​ ​reporting​ ​an​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​marijuana-related​ ​homicides​​ ​since 
the​ ​state​ ​legalized​ ​the​ ​drug.  

 

 
​ ​This​ ​situation​ ​is​ ​detailed​ ​here: 
http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/07/state_slaps_portland_dispensar.h
tml​.​ ​Other​ ​instances​ ​of​ ​fraud​ ​have​ ​been​ ​discussed​ ​here:​ ​Sapient​ ​Investigations​ ​Newsletters 
(2015,​ ​Feb.​ ​10)​ ​“High​ ​Times​ ​for​ ​Fraud,"​ ​available​ ​online​ ​at 
https://sapientinvestigations.com/spi-news/high-times-for-fraud/ 
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In​ ​Oregon,​ ​state​ ​police​ r​ eport​ ​that,​ ​“Cannabis​ ​is​ ​a​ ​lucrative​ ​target​ ​for​ ​robbery.​ ​As​ ​recently 
as​ ​December​ ​2016,​ ​a​ ​state-licensed​ ​cannabis​ ​producer​ ​was​ ​targeted​ ​for​ ​a​ ​violent​ ​armed 
robbery.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​aforementioned​ ​case,​ ​a​ ​well-known​ ​cannabis​ ​grower​ ​in​ ​Jackson​ ​County 
was​ ​assaulted,​ ​bound,​ ​and​ ​his​ ​harvest​ ​was​ ​taken​ ​by​ ​armed​ ​assailants.” 

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In​ ​Prince​ ​George's​ ​County​ ​Maryland,​ ​Police​ ​Chief​ ​Henry​ ​Stawinski​ ​noted​ ​a​ ​significant​ ​rise 
in​ ​marijuana-related​ ​homicides​ ​since​ ​neighboring​ ​D.C.​ ​legalized​ ​the​ ​drug.​​ ​Stawinski​ ​said 
19​ ​homicides​ ​in​ ​2016​ ​were​ ​related​ ​to​ ​marijuana.  

 

 

DOJ​ ​Guideline​ ​6:​​ ​“Preventing​ ​drugged​ ​driving​ ​and​ ​the​ ​exacerbation​ ​of​ ​other​ ​public 
health​ ​consequences​ ​associated​ ​with​ ​marijuana​ ​use” 
 
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Drugged​ ​driving​ ​has​ ​increased​ ​in​ ​states​ ​with​ ​legal​ ​marijuana​ ​sales.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​a​ ​study 
published​ ​by​ ​the​ ​American​ ​Automobile​ ​Association,​ f​ atal​ ​drugged​ ​driving​ ​crashes 
doubled​ ​in​ ​Washington​ ​State​ ​after​ ​the​ ​state​ ​legalized​ ​marijuana.​ T
​ he​ ​Governors​ ​Highway 
Safety​ ​Association​ ​also​ n
​ otes​ ​a​ ​disturbing​ ​rise​ ​in​ ​drugged​ ​driving​ ​crashes​​ ​even​ ​as 
alcohol-related​ ​crashes​ ​are​ ​declining. 
 
​ ​A​ ​Denver​ ​Post​ ​analysis​ ​found​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of​ ​marijuana-impaired​ ​drivers​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​fatal 
crashes​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ ​more​ ​than​ ​doubled​ ​since​ ​2013​,​ ​the​ ​year​ ​after​ ​the​ ​state​ ​voted​ ​to 
legalize​ ​recreational​ ​marijuana​ ​use.​ ​Colorado​ ​saw​ ​a​ 1
​ 45​ ​percent​ ​increase​​ ​in​ ​the​ ​number 
of​ ​marijuana-impaired​ ​drivers​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​fatal​ ​crashes​ ​between​ ​2013​ ​and​ ​2016. 
Marijuana​ ​is​ ​also​ ​figuring​ ​into​ ​more​ ​of​ ​Colorado’s​ ​fatal​ ​crashes​ ​overall:​ ​in​ ​2013, 
marijuana-impaired​ ​drivers​ ​accounted​ ​for​ ​10​ ​percent​ ​of​ ​all​ ​fatal​ ​crashes,​ ​but​ ​by​ ​2016​ ​it 
reached​ ​20​ ​percent​.  

 
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According​ ​to​ ​a​ ​study​​ ​published​ ​in​ ​the​ A
​ nnals​ ​of​ ​Emergency​ ​Medicine,​​ ​poison​ ​control​ ​calls 
for​ ​children​ ​more​ ​than​ ​tripled​ ​after​ ​marijuana​ ​legalization.​ ​Much​ ​of​ ​this​ ​is​ ​linked​ ​to​ ​a 
boom​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sale​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​“edibles.”​​ ​THC​ ​concentrate​ ​is​ ​mixed​ ​into​ ​almost​ ​any​ ​type 
of​ ​food​ ​or​ ​drink,​ ​including​ ​gummy​ ​candy,​ ​soda,​ ​and​ ​lollipops.​ ​Today,​ ​these​ ​edibles 
comprise​ ​at​ ​least​ ​half​ ​of​ ​Colorado’s​ ​marijuana​ ​market. 

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In​ ​Washington​ ​State,​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of​ ​marijuana-involved​ ​DUIs​ ​are​ ​increasing​ ​with​ ​38 
percent​ ​of​ ​total​ ​cases​ ​submitted​ ​in​ ​2016​ ​testing​ ​above​ ​the​ ​five​ ​nanogram​ ​per​ ​milliliter​ ​of 
blood​ ​legal​ ​limit​ ​for​ ​those​ ​over​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​twenty-one.​ ​In​ ​addition,​ ​10​ ​percent​ ​of​ ​drivers 
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involved​ ​in​ ​a​ ​fatal​ ​accident​ ​from​ ​2010​ ​to​ ​2014​ ​were​ ​THC-positive.  

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A​ ​study​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Highway​ ​Loss​ ​Data​ ​Institute​​ ​reveals​ ​that​ ​Colorado,​ ​Oregon,​ ​and 
Washington​ ​have​ ​experienced​ ​three​ ​percent​ ​more​ ​collision​ ​claims​ ​overall​ ​than​ ​would 

 

 

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​ ​NWHIDTA​ ​Drug​ ​Threat​ ​Assessment​ ​For​ ​Program​ ​Year​ ​2018
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have​ ​been​ ​expected​ ​without​ ​legalization.​ ​Colorado​ ​witnessed​ ​the​ ​largest​ ​jump​ ​in​ ​claims​. 
The​ ​state​ ​experienced​ ​a​ ​rate​ ​14​ ​percent​ ​higher​ ​than​ ​neighboring​ ​states.  

 
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In​ ​Washington​ ​State,​ ​from​ ​2012​ ​to​ ​2016,​ ​calls​ ​to​ ​poison​ ​control​ ​centers​ ​increased​ ​by 
79.48%.​ ​Exposures​ ​increased​ ​19.65%​ ​from​ ​the​ ​time​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​commercialization​ ​in 
2014​ ​to​ ​2016.​ ​Of​ ​the​ ​marijuana​ ​calls​ ​answered​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Poison​ ​Center​ ​in​ ​2016,​ ​youth 
under​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​20​ ​accounted​ ​for​ ​almost​ ​40%​ ​of​ ​all​ ​calls.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​2016​ ​Annual 
Cannabis​ ​Toxic​ ​Trends​ ​Report,​ ​42%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​calls​ ​reported​ ​were​ ​for​ ​persons​ ​aged​ ​13​ ​to​ ​29. 
Additionally,​ ​among​ ​exposures​ ​related​ ​to​ ​children​ ​under​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​five,​ ​73%​ ​involved 
children​ ​one​ ​to​ ​three​ ​years​ ​of​ ​age.​ ​The​ ​counties​ ​with​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​reported​ ​number​ ​of 
exposures​ ​for​ ​2015​ r​ emained​ ​in​ ​the​ ​top​ ​four​ ​for​ ​2016​:​ ​King,​ ​Spokane,​ ​Snohomish,​ ​and 
Pierce. 

 

DOJ​ ​Guideline​ ​7:​ “​ Preventing​ ​the​ ​growing​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​on​ ​public​ ​lands​ ​and​ ​the 
attendant​ ​public​ ​safety​ ​and​ ​environmental​ ​dangers​ ​posed​ ​by​ ​marijuana​ ​on​ ​public​ ​lands” 
 
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In​ ​Washington​ ​State,​ 3
​ 73,778​ ​marijuana​ ​plants​​ ​were​ ​found​ ​growing​ ​illegally​ ​on​ ​public 
and​ ​private​ ​lands​ ​between​ ​2012​ ​and​ ​2016.​ ​Of​ ​the​ ​illegal​ ​marijuana​ ​plants​ ​eradicated​ ​in 
2016,​ ​60%​ ​were​ ​being​ ​cultivated​ ​on​ ​state​ ​land,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​58,604​ ​illegal​ ​marijuana​ ​plants 
eradicated​ ​in​ ​2016​ ​consumed​ ​an​ ​estimated​ ​43.2​ ​million​ ​gallons​ ​of​ ​water​​ ​over​ ​a​ ​full 
growing​ ​season​ ​(120-day​ ​cycle).​ ​ ​More​ ​than​ ​400​ ​pounds​ ​of​ ​fertilizers,​ ​chemicals,​ ​and 
pesticides​ ​were​ ​removed​ ​from​ ​illegal​ ​marijuana​ ​growing​ ​operations​ ​in​ ​2016,​ ​and 
Furadan,​ ​a​ ​neurotoxin​ ​that​ ​is​ ​extremely​ ​dangerous​ ​to​ ​humans,​ ​was​ ​found​ ​in​ ​an​ ​illegal 
marijuana​ ​growing​ ​operation​​ ​the​ ​same​ ​year.  

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In​ ​June​ ​2017,​ C
​ olorado​ ​officials​ ​found​ ​more​ ​than​ ​7,000​ ​illegal​ ​plants​​ ​on​ ​federal​ ​land​ ​in 
the​ ​state’s​ ​San​ ​Isabel​ ​National​ ​Forest.​ ​This​ ​was​ ​the​ ​fifth​ ​illegal​ ​grow​ ​found​ ​in​ ​that​ ​area 
alone​ ​since​ ​the​ ​year​ ​marijuana​ ​legalization​ ​passed,​ ​demonstrating​ ​legalization​ ​has​ ​not 
curbed​ ​the​ ​problem​ ​of​ ​grows​ ​exploiting​ ​public​ ​lands. 

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In​ ​Oregon,​ ​the​ ​legalization​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​in​ ​the​ ​state​ ​has​ ​failed​ ​to​ ​eliminate​ ​illegal​ ​growing 
operations​​ ​and​ ​public​ ​lands​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​be​ ​exploited​ ​despite​ ​a​ ​legal​ ​market.​ ​ ​According 
to​ ​a​ ​report​ ​from​ ​state​ ​officials,​ ​“To​ ​date​ ​in​ ​Oregon,​ ​cannabis​ ​legalization​ ​has​ ​not​ ​had​ ​a 
noticeable​ ​influence​ ​on​ ​Mexican​ ​National​ ​[Drug​ ​Trafficking​ ​Organizations]​ ​illicit​ ​cannabis 
cultivation​ ​operations​ ​on​ ​public​ ​lands…​ ​leaving​ ​a​ ​lasting​ ​scar​ ​on​ ​Oregon’s​ ​unique 
ecosystems.​ ​Illicit​ ​cannabis​ ​grows​ ​employ​ ​excessive​ ​amounts​ ​of​ ​pesticides, 
rodenticides,​ ​and​ ​herbicides,​ ​thereby​ ​threatening​ ​local​ ​wildlife​ ​habitats.​ ​Additionally, 
many​ ​illicit​ ​grow​ ​sites​ ​clear-cut​ ​timber,​ ​furthering​ ​soil​ ​erosion​ ​and​ ​water​ ​contamination. 
Research​ ​on​ ​the​ ​environmental​ ​impact​ ​of​ ​illicit​ ​cannabis​ ​grows​ ​indicates​ ​that​ ​grows 
tend​ ​to​ ​be​ ​bunched​ ​near​ ​water​ ​sources,​ ​resulting​ ​in​ ​disproportionate​ ​impacts​ ​on 
ecologically​ ​important​ ​areas...​ ​Oregon​ ​is​ ​robbed​ ​of​ ​roughly​ ​122​ ​Olympic​ ​swimming​ ​pools 

 

 

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worth​ ​of​ ​water​ ​annually,​ ​or​ ​roughly​ ​442,200​ ​gallons​ ​of​ ​water​ ​daily​ ​during​ ​the​ ​growth 
season.” 

 
DOJ​ ​Guideline​ ​8:​ “​ Preventing​ ​marijuana​ ​possession​ ​or​ ​use​ ​on​ ​federal​ ​property” 
 
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Advocates​ ​for​ ​legal​ ​marijuana​ ​frequently​ ​flout​ ​federal​ ​laws​ ​by​ ​possessing​ ​and​ ​using 
marijuana​ ​on​ ​federal​ ​properties​ ​purportedly​ ​in​ ​acts​ ​of​ ​civil​ ​disobedience.​ ​In​ ​January 
2017,​ ​one​ ​group​ ​gave​ ​away​ ​free​ ​marijuana​ ​in​ ​Washington,​ ​D.C.​ ​to​ ​smoke​ ​on​ ​the​ ​National 
Mall​​ ​during​ ​the​ ​inauguration​ ​of​ ​President​ ​Trump.​ ​ ​On​ ​April​ ​24,​ ​2017,​ ​four​ ​activists​ ​were 
arrested​ ​after​ p
​ urposely​ ​flouting​ ​federal​ ​law​ ​and​ ​publicly​ ​using​ ​marijuana​ ​on​ ​U.S.​ ​Capitol 
grounds.   

 

Conclusion​ ​and​ ​Key​ ​Recommendations 
 
Federal​ ​resources​ ​should​ ​target​ ​the​ ​big​ ​players​ ​in​ ​the​ ​marijuana​ ​industry.​ ​Individual​ ​marijuana 
users​ ​should​ ​not​ ​be​ ​targeted​ ​or​ ​arrested,​ ​but​ ​large-scale​ ​marijuana​ ​businesses,​ ​several​ ​of​ ​which 
now​ ​boast​ ​of​ ​having​ ​raised​ ​over​ ​$100​ ​million​ ​in​ ​capital,​ ​and​ ​their​ ​financial​ ​backers,​ ​should​ ​be​ ​a 
priority.​ ​These​ ​large​ ​businesses​ ​are​ ​pocketing​ ​millions​ ​by​ ​flouting​ ​federal​ ​law,​ ​deceiving 
Americans​ ​about​ ​the​ ​risks​ ​of​ ​their​ ​products,​ ​and​ ​targeting​ ​the​ ​most​ ​vulnerable.​ ​They​ ​should​ ​not 
have​ ​access​ ​to​ ​banks,​ ​where​ ​their​ ​financial​ ​prowess​ ​would​ ​be​ ​expanded​ ​significantly,​ ​nor 
should​ ​they​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​advertise​ ​or​ ​commercialize​ ​marijuana.  
  
These​ ​businesses​ ​target​ ​many​ ​of​ ​the​ ​marijuana​ ​products​ ​they​ ​sell​ ​toward​ ​kids,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​pot 
candies,​ ​cookies,​ ​and​ ​ice​ ​cream.​ ​And​ ​despite​ ​state​ ​regulations,​ ​these​ ​products​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​have 
problems​ ​with​ ​contamination.​ ​ ​Recently,​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​largest,​ ​most​ ​sophisticated​ ​manufacturers 
of​ ​these​ ​pot​ ​“edibles”​ ​was​ f​ orced​ ​to​ ​recall​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​products​​ ​because​ ​they​ ​contained 
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non-food-grade​ ​ingredients.  
  
Additionally,​ ​the​ ​black​ ​market​ ​continues​ ​unabated​ ​in​ ​legalized​ ​states.​ ​A​ ​leaked​ ​report​​ ​from 
Oregon​ ​police​ ​showed​ ​that​ ​at​ ​least​ ​70​ ​percent​ ​of​ ​that​ ​state’s​ ​marijuana​ ​market​ ​is​ ​illegal,​ ​despite 
legalization.​ ​In​ ​June​ ​2017,​ ​Colorado​ ​Attorney​ ​General​ ​Cynthia​ ​Coffman​ ​said​,​ ​“The​ ​black​ ​market 
for​ ​marijuana​ ​has​ ​not​ ​gone​ ​away​ ​since​ ​recreational​ ​marijuana​ ​was​ ​legalized​ ​in​ ​our​ ​state,​ ​and​ ​in 
fact​ ​continues​ ​to​ ​flourish.”​ ​Further,​ ​state-legal​ ​businesses​ ​have​ ​acted​ ​as​ ​top​ ​cover​ ​for​ ​these 
illegal​ ​operations,​ ​as​ ​recent​ ​large-scale​ ​arrests​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ ​have​ ​shown. 
  
These​ ​large​ ​marijuana​ ​operations,​ ​which​ ​combine​ ​the​ ​tactics​ ​of​ ​Big​ ​Tobacco​ ​with​ ​black 
marketeering,​ ​should​ ​form​ ​the​ ​focus​ ​of​ ​federal​ ​law​ ​enforcement,​ ​not​ ​individual​ ​users.​ ​ ​At​ ​the 
​ ​Recalls​ ​are​ ​becoming​ ​more​ ​commonplace​ ​because​ ​of​ ​pesticides,​ ​molds,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​issues. 
See​ T​ he​​ ​Denver​ ​Post​​ ​for​ ​news​ ​stories​ ​related​ ​to​ ​these​ ​recalls​ ​in​ ​legalized​ ​states: 
http://www.thecannabist.co/tag/marijuana-recall/ 
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same​ ​time,​ ​the​ ​federal​ ​government​ ​along​ ​with​ ​non-government​ ​partners​ ​should​ ​implement​ ​a 
strong,​ ​evidence-based​ ​marijuana​ ​information​ ​campaign,​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​the​ ​truth​®​​ ​campaign​ ​for 
tobacco,​ ​which​ ​alerts​ ​all​ ​Americans​ ​about​ ​the​ ​harms​ ​of​ ​marijuana​ ​and​ ​the​ ​deceitful​ ​practices​ ​of 
the​ ​marijuana​ ​industry. 

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