US Attorney Andrew Lelling, the top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts, on Tuesday pointed to three marijuana-related areas his office plans to focus on as the state keeps moving into the era of legal pot.

The Cannabis Control Commission, the new state agency tasked with overseeing the burgeoning industry, has started issue the licenses needed for retail pot shops to open in Massachusetts.

The commission was created through a voter-approved state law legalizing marijuana, but the drug remains illegal at the federal level.

Lelling, in a statement building on previous comments he’s made about enforcement of federal law and marijuana, reiterated his focus on fighting the opioid crisis while outlining areas for potential marijuana-related prosecution.

“Because I have a constitutional obligation to enforce the laws passed by Congress, I will not effectively immunize the residents of the Commonwealth from federal marijuana enforcement,” he said. “My office’s resources, however, are primarily focused on combatting the opioid epidemic that claims thousands of lives in the Commonwealth each year.” [Read More @ MassLive.com]