The U.S. Attorney’s Office issued the following statement Wednesday in connection with Washington’s new marijuana law that became effective Thursday allowing the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana:

The Department of Justice is reviewing the legalization initiatives recently passed in Colorado and Washington State, according to the media release.

“The department’s responsibility to enforce the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged. Neither states nor the executive branch can nullify a statute passed by Congress. In enacting the Controlled Substances Act, Congress determined that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance.

Regardless of any changes in state law, including the change that will go into effect on Dec. 6 in Washington state, growing, selling or possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Members of the public are also advised to remember that it remains against federal law to bring any amount of marijuana onto federal property, including all federal buildings, national parks and forests, military installations and courthouses.”