system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What does it mean when Marijuana is decriminalized or legalized in different states but not federally? (USA)

Which states are opposed to the legalization/decriminalization of marijuana and which is a proponent of it? I'm not sure I understand how it works in California, Washington, and Colorado, where it's supposedly legalized.
gpt
Essentially it means state and local officials are not able to, and will not arrest people for those crimes.

But federal officials (who rarely engage in that sort of police action) are able to prosecute for these acts.

For example, if the FBI busts down your door in Colorado for breaking into a bank in NY electronically and stealing money from them (a **federal crime**) and you have a bunch of pot in your house they can and will use that offense to hold you and possibly give you even more time in prison if you're convicted.

But your county/city police officer won't legally have an interest or ability to arrest you if they see you in your yard smoking pot with your friends.