In this photo taken Feb. 14, 2013, Peter Bensinger, a former Drug Enforcement Administration chief under Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, speaks at a news conference in Chicago. Bensinger is one of eight former DEA chiefs that say the federal government needs to act now or it might lose the chance to nullify Colorado and Washington's laws legalizing recreational marijuana use. They plan to issue joint statements Tuesday, March 5, 2013, saying the Obama administration has reacted too slowly and should immediately sue to force the states to rescind the legislation. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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In this photo taken Feb. 14, 2013, Peter Bensinger, a former Drug Enforcement Administration chief under Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, speaks at a news conference in Chicago. Bensinger is one of eight former DEA chiefs that say the federal government needs to act now or it might lose the chance to nullify Colorado and Washington's laws legalizing recreational marijuana use. They plan to issue joint statements Tuesday, March 5, 2013, saying the Obama administration has reacted too slowly and should immediately sue to force the states to rescind the legislation. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2013 file photo, a bar code is seen attached to a marijuana plant at a grow house in Denver. The bar codes are assigned to each plant and follow it through the growing and distribution process. Eight former Drug Enforcement Administration chiefs say the federal government needs to act now or it might lose the chance to nullify Colorado and Washington's laws legalizing recreational marijuana use. The onetime DEA heads plan to issue joint statements Tuesday, March 5, 2013, saying the Obama administration has reacted too slowly and should immediately sue to force the states to rescind the legislation. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File)
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Colorado's governor is warning residents of his state against marijuana use, noting that it remains illegal under federal law, despite voters approving its use under state law. (Nov. 7)
UN official urges US to fight new marijuana laws
VIENNA (
AP) — The head of the U.N. drug watchdog agency is urging U.S. federal officials to challenge the decriminalization of possessing small amounts of marijuana for adults 21 and over in Washington and Colorado.
While marijuana remains illegal under federal law, both states legalized possession of up to an ounce in November and are setting up rules to govern growers, processors and retailers.
Raymond Yans of the Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board said in a statement Thursday that Washington is obliged to ensure nationwide implementation of a drug convention "to which the United States is party" and which bans recreational marijuana use.
The INCB has no enforcement ability.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said last week the Justice Department has not yet decided whether to sue to block the measures.
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