In a not-unexpected stance from a Southern Republican whose backward beliefs extend to overt racism, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said today that he believes the benefits of medical marijuana are exaggerated and that a casual attitude toward recreational use of the drug is dangerous.
More shocking, though, is Sessions’ extreme characterization of Marijuana, a plant that most have begun to understand is mostly harmless.
Addressing officials seeking to combat violent crime on Wednesday morning, Sessions stated that the recreational use of cannabis is “only slightly less awful” than the heroin epidemic.
“I am astonished to hear people suggest that we can solve our heroin crisis by legalizing marijuana – so people can trade one life-wrecking dependency for another that’s only slightly less awful.”
Sessions acknowledged that his view may be “unfashionable,” but said that rather than moving toward acceptance of marijuana use, he would prefer the United States to go back to the extreme war on drugs and urging children and adults to ‘just say no.’
“Our nation needs to say clearly once again that using drugs will destroy your life.”
To be clear, no one anywhere has ever died of a marijuana overdose.
Even as he made these wild claims, Sessions’ stated that he knew what he believed was unpopular. But rather than understanding that his outdated views were “unfashionable” because they aren’t based in facts and reality, Sessions instead appears to be taking the view that he knows best, and would impose his beliefs on the rest of the country.
“I reject the idea that America will be a better place if marijuana is sold in every corner store.”
This is the problem with people like Sessions – rather than consulting the science of the issue, or even listening to the overwhelming opinion of the public at-large, he continues to drive toward his agenda, driving the United States back into the antebellum South for which he so deeply pines.
