The "Cole Memo",[1] from DAG James Cole, is the most recent directive on prosecution of marijuana distribution in states that have legalized it either for recreational or medical use. It permits weighing the likelihood of illegal trafficking on a number of factors, including size and for profit nature (although it states that this cannot be the only basis for prosecution).
Even so, US Attorneys have a great amount of autonomy, and Holder directly "reigning in" Haag could be seen as political interference (it is still a violation of federal law, after all). The US Attorney firing scandal in the Bush Administration was an example of backlash for interfering with this autonomy. [2]
Her office said they'll continue the crackdown even after the Cole memo[1]. Makes you wonder whats really going on with these guidelines that can be ignored at will.
The Bush firing scandal was purely political, it was done to protect Republicans from investigations. That is nowhere in the same league as requesting that prosecution guidelines be followed. And anyway, even in the firing scandal no one got into trouble over it. I don't buy the idea that Holder or Obama are powerless to stop her if they wanted to.
Even so, US Attorneys have a great amount of autonomy, and Holder directly "reigning in" Haag could be seen as political interference (it is still a violation of federal law, after all). The US Attorney firing scandal in the Bush Administration was an example of backlash for interfering with this autonomy. [2]
[1] http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/August/13-opa-974.html
[2] http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dismissal_of_U.S._attorneys_c...