While there are over 23 states which currently allow the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal purpose, the drug remains banned on a national level, which has put many states at odds with federal authorities.
Now a provision has been added to the recently approved $1.1 trillion Congressional Spending bill, which will prevent the Justice Department from pursuing states that have already approved marijuana for medicinal use; this is the first time that Congress has ever sided against prosecutor in the ongoing battle over legalization.
Drug policy reformist Bill Piper advised the Los Angeles Times, “The war on medical marijuana is now over. Now the fight moves on to legalization of all marijuana.”