Cole Memo

The Cole Memo was a guidance issued in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Justice to federal prosecutors, outlining how they could approach states that had legalized marijuana. It essentially told prosecutors not to prioritize federal enforcement in states where marijuana was legal under state law, as long as certain rules—like preventing sales to minors or trafficking across state lines—were followed. The memo aimed to respect state laws while maintaining federal enforcement priorities, but it didn't change the fact that marijuana remained illegal federally. It was rescinded in 2018, leaving some uncertainty about federal enforcement.