#HEALTH NEWS SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 / 2:43 PM / UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO

Attorney General Sessions says marijuana still illegal

Sarah N. Lynch
3 MIN READ

(Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday criticized the legalization of marijuana in multiple states and warned that the federal law banning use and sale of the drug “remains in effect,” remarks that could stoke fears of a federal crackdown.

“I’ve never felt that we should legalize marijuana,” Sessions said in response to a question from a reporter during a press conference in San Diego announcing record-breaking narcotics seizures by the U.S. Coast Guard in fiscal 2017.

“It doesn’t strike me that the country would be better if it’s being sold at every street corner,” he said, adding that medical organizations oppose it and federal law prohibits it.

Since taking over the helm of the Justice Department in February, Sessions has made drugs, violent crime and illegal immigration his three top law enforcement priorities.

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