Holder Easing US Pot Policies, Online Gambling Next?

The decision to not try to persecute organizations within the law by Holder has Internet casino operators wondering if online gambling is next to receive the benefits of law.

US Attorney General Eric Holder has discontinued a Department of Justice policy to investigate medical marijuana outlets operating legally under state laws. The decision to not try to persecute organizations within the law by Holder has Internet casino operators wondering if online gambling is next to receive the benefits of law.

Under the Bush administration, federal procedure was to enforce a zero tolerance stance against marijuana, regardless of state law. Now, the Department of Justice plans to actually respect the Constitutional right of states to determine their own laws.

Internet gambling has long been a victim of DoJ inquiries into activities that did not violate any laws. The only federal law applying to online gambling, the Wire Act, has been found by the courts to only address sports gambling. Nevertheless, Bush officials attempted to enforce a non-existent statute against online casinos.

If Holder extends his policy of pragmatism and Constitutionality to online gambling, such companies as PartyGaming should find negotiations to end the US harassment much easier. Pressure by US legal authorities has been so great, PartyGaming co-founder Anurag Dikshit paid a $300 million fine and waits for a potential prison sentence,even though he was never charged.

A spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Agency said legal authorities would still pursue marijuana dispensaries that broke the law. Many observers noted how refreshing it was to have a policy of going after only those who committed crimes.

Holder's office released a statement saying the Attorney General would shift focus to prosecuting more white-collar and financial crimes, an area the Bush appointees largely ignored.