Article snippet: Attorney General MORE will roll back an Obama-era policy that gave states leeway to allow marijuana for recreational purposes. The Justice Department on Thursday afternoon released a memo announcing that the so-called Cole memo — which ordered U.S. attorneys in states where marijuana has been legalized to deprioritize prosecution of marijuana-related cases — would be rescinded effective immediately. "Previous nationwide guidance specific to marijuana enforcement is unnecessary and is rescinded, effective immediately," the memo reads. Two sources with knowledge of the decision confirmed to The Hill early Thursday that Sessions planned on ending the policy authored in 2013 by then-Deputy Attorney General James Cole. The Associated Press first reported the decision. Sessions, since taking over as head of the Justice Department, has appeared to show a harder line on marijuana. In May, the attorney general sent a letter to congressional leaders requesting they get rid of an amendment in the department’s budget that blocks the Justice Department from using federal money to prevent states "from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana." Opponents of legal marijuana on Thursday celebrated the long-awaited action. “It’s pretty clear that the federal policy is going to be that U.S. attorneys will have discretion and the industry can no longer hide behind the Cole memo and say that they’re pro... Link to the full article to read more