Oregon’s U.S. attorney to focus on marijuana trafficking

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The US Attorney for Oregon says in a memo that he will prioritize enforcement of marijuana overproduction and interstate trafficking in the state.

U.S. Attorney Billy Williams is the first U.S. attorney to detail his strategy for enforcing federal drug laws in a state where marijuana is legal.

The memo released Friday comes three months after Williams convened a summit in Portland to discuss what he calls a “significant overproduction” of marijuana in the state that’s driving a black market and illegal trafficking to other states that have not legalized pot.

Williams also says his office will focus on underage marijuana use and on cases that involve violent crime, organized crime and environmental damage.

Williams notes that his office must “strategically consider” which cases to pursue, given his resources.