Fellow Law Enforcers Ask Eric Holder & Justice Department to Respect State Marijuana Laws

US Attorneys Urged to Use Discretion to Allow Successful State Implementation

Teleconference with Prosecutors, Cops & Judges Who Say Let States Legalize

WASHINGTON, DC -- On Tuesday a group of veteran law enforcement professionals will deliver a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at the Department of Justice urging the Obama administration to respect state laws that legalize and regulate marijuana. Voters in Colorado and Washington State opted decisively for marijuana legalization on November 6 and national polls show majority support for replacing marijuana prohibition with legal regulation.

After personally delivering the letter signed by dozens of police, prosecutors, judges and federal agents to the Department of Justice at 9:00 AM ET, 34-year veteran narcotics cop Neill Franklin will join other law enforcers for a 12:00 PM ET teleconference call to answer questions from journalists.

WHO: 34-year veteran Baltimore narc Neill Franklin, former Seattle chief of police Norm Stamper, 36-year veteran former Denver police lieutenant Tony Ryan, former police lieutenant commander Diane Goldstein & California NAACP President Alice Huffman.

WHAT: Delivery of letter to Attorney General Eric Holder's office at Department of Justice & teleconference with law enforcers

WHEN: Tuesday, November 20 -- Letter delivery at 9:00 AM ET; Teleconference at 12:00 PM ET

WHERE: Letter delivery at U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530; Teleconference at (800) 311-9403 (passcode: "Marijuana")

"During his first term, President Obama really disappointed those of us who hoped he might follow through on his campaign pledges to respect state medical marijuana laws," said Neill Franklin, the Baltimore narc who serves as executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. "Still, I'm hopeful that in his second term he'll realize the political opportunity that exists to do the right thing. Polls show 80% support for medical marijuana, and in Colorado marijuana legalization got more votes than the president did in this most recent election."

Tony Ryan, a retired 36-year veteran Denver police lieutenant, added, "From a public safety perspective, it's crucial that the Obama administration let Colorado and Washington fully implement the marijuana regulation laws that voters approved on Election Day. There's nothing the federal government can do to force these states to arrest people for marijuana possession, but if it tries and succeeds in stopping the states from regulating and taxing marijuana sales, cartels and gangs will continue to make money selling marijuana to people on the illegal market. Plus, the states won't be able to take in any new tax revenue to fund schools."

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