How Federal Marijuana Policy Will Impact Scientific Research

U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling’s recent response to a federal policy change reversing the Obama-era Cole Memo is sending shock waves through the legal marijuana industry. Lelling said that state law would not shield large-scale cultivation and distribution operations from prosecution under national marijuana laws.

Already, speculations about the impact on the nascent recreational industry are swirling. Citing Lelling’s statements, medical dispensaries across the state are no longer accepting debit card payments, forcing patients to pay with cash.