Conservatives criticized U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his decision to roll back Obama-era measures that shortened sentences for drug offenders. 

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who voted to approve Sessions, said drug use is not a “lock ‘em up and throw away the key’ problem” He supports a bipartisan bill that would counter Sessions. 

The conservative Charles Koch Institute found that eight out of ten Trump voters want to see shorter drug sentences. The Federalist says Sessions “has neither the authority nor the evidence to pursue a new drug war.”

Sessions' move, the N.Y. Times notes,  “ran so contrary to the growing bipartisan consensus coursing through Washington.”The paper also explains how Sessions’ guidance would jack up sentences. Reason has more.

Despite Sessions, some states are trying to reduce penalties.

Sessions aggressive stance “creates a lot of uncertainty and that uncertainty is deeply concerning for patients and providers,” Michael Collins of the Drug Policy Alliance told the Washington Post. “We had thought medical marijuana wasn’t really in play in terms of a crackdown.” MJ Biz Daily has more. So does CNBC.

Pro-legalization Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) argued that legalization looks inevitable. “Trump is essentially irrelevant.”

In 2016, a recording caught House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R.-Calif.) saying “There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump.” Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) is among the most pro-cannabis members of Congress. Republicans have tried to brush aside McCarthy’s remarks as a joke.

The California government is starting to collect feedback on proposed cannabis regulations.

Leafly asks why legalization pushes failed in Texas.

Montana Congressional candidate Rob Quist (D), who’s running in a May 25 special election, ducked out of an interview rather than discuss past marijuana use, that came out in a 20-year old malpractice lawsuit he had filed against a doctor. He later copped to receiving a citation in 1971.

Worried that it would undermine efforts to fight the opioid crisis, New Hampshire Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D) and Maggie Hassan (D) oppose the Trump administration’s plan to gut the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Both sides are lobbying Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) on the REC bill passed by the state legislature. If he doesn’t sign it by Wednesday it automatically becomes law.

Florida ordered a dispensary to stop selling a product that could be smoked. Maryland approved its first MED grow. For the first time, Oregon’s economic forecast accounts for cannabis.

MJ Biz Daily interviewed Anne McLellan, who led Canada’s marijuana task force, on the road to legalization.

Colorado lawmakers haven’t passed social use because they can’t decide on the meaning of “open and public” consumption.

Iowa and Minnesota are trying to work out a way for Iowans to buy MED from Minnesota, despite interstate commerce laws. If successful it would be the first example of cannabis remaining state-legal after it crossed state lines.

In L.A., I found that "rogue dispensaries" are a source of resentment.

Miami Deputy City Attorney Barnaby Min compared legalizing MED to legalizing pedophilia.

U.K. Prime Minister Teresa May has no intention of legalizing. She considers it a gateway drug. 

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte pushed back an impeachment attempt related to his war on drugs. He’s also cracking down on public tobacco use.