Colorado lawmakers on Thursday backed off plans to become the nation’s first state to regulate marijuana clubs, according to a new report.
Thursday’s events come amid ambiguity over how the Trump administration will enforce federal laws concerning the drug, The Associated Press reported.
The AP said Colorado’s measure initially boasted bipartisan support and would have let marijuana users bring their own pot to clubs.
{mosads}The proposal was amended to remove club regulations, it said, amid fears that such clubs would ultimately anger federal drug enforcers.
Colorado has been left with a patchwork of rules governing the venues.
The AP added that lawmakers seemingly sided with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), who had warned against bold changes to the state’s marijuana laws last month.
“Given the uncertainty in Washington, this is not the time to be … trying to carve off new turf and expand markets and make dramatic statements about marijuana,” he told The Denver Post.
Colorado has about 30 private pot clubs, according to legislative analysts, but they operate under varied local regulations and are at times raided by law enforcement.
The AP added Colorado’s legislation now contains relatively minor changes to marijuana laws but could undergo more changes before a final vote.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is an outspoken opponent of marijuana use and has criticized the 28 states and Washington, D.C., that do not enforce federal laws banning it.
“My view is we don’t need to be legalizing marijuana,” he said in February. “I’m not sure we’re going to be a better, healthier nation if we have marijuana sold at every corner grocery store.”