Jeff Sessions personally asked Congress to let him prosecute medical marijuana providers

Washington Post ^ | 06/13/2017 | Christopher Ingrahm

[Drew68]

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is asking congressional leaders to undo federal medical marijuana protections that have been in place since 2014, according to a May letter that became public Monday.

The protections, known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, prohibit the Justice Department from using federal funds to prevent certain states "from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana."

In his letter, first obtained by Tom Angell of Massroots.com and verified independently by The Washington Post, Sessions argued that the amendment would "inhibit [the Justice Department's] authority to enforce the Controlled Substances Act." He continues:

I believe it would be unwise for Congress to restrict the discretion of the Department to fund particular prosecutions, particularly in the midst of an historic drug epidemic and potentially long-term uptick in violent crime. The Department must be in a position to use all laws available to combat the transnational drug organizations and dangerous drug traffickers who threaten American lives.

Sessions's citing of a "historic drug epidemic" to justify a crackdown on medical marijuana is at odds with what researchers know about current drug use and abuse in the United States. The epidemic Sessions refers to involves deadly opiate drugs, not marijuana. A growing body of research (acknowledged by the National Institute on Drug Abuse) has shown that opiate deaths and overdoses actually decrease in states with medical marijuana laws on the books.

[Drew68]

Fake news? Certainly, Attorney General Sessions has more pressing matters on his plate, right?

[reasonisfaith]

Sessions understands the damaging effects of marijuana on society.

[chris37]

Doesn’t seem like a good idea, Jeff.

Maybe you should prosecute actual criminals like Hillary Clinton.

[dirtboy]

As opposed to opiates?

A growing body of research (acknowledged by the National Institute on Drug Abuse) has shown that opiate deaths and overdoses actually decrease in states with medical marijuana laws on the books.

If people can legally access medical marijuana for back pain, they can stay aware from prescribed opiates which are far more dangerous and destructive.

[KC_Lion]

For your interest.

[reasonisfaith]

Apathy, mood swings, rage episodes, no motivation, depression, decreased concentration, suppression of the brain’s natural cannabinoid analogs.

Marijuana is an artificial cannabinoid. Let the body’s natural cannabinoids do their work.

[ek_hornbeck]

Sessions understands the damaging effects of marijuana on society.

Just like the well-intentioned idiots who gave us Prohibition understood the damaging effects of alcohol on society.

Jeff Sessions is great on immigration and other issues but wrong to waste law enforcement resources to crack down on medical or recreational pot use. There are far worse problems facing our society than someone getting stoned.

[reasonisfaith]

The last thing millenials need is pot.

How about get up, find a job and quit complaining.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks so much for your support to this point... I personally apprecaite it...
FReepers, it's time to wrap up this FReep-a-thon.  Lets do it...

President Donald J. Trump and the Free Republic of the United States of America

Ramirez political cartoon: Hungry Media LARGE VERSION 06/10/2017: LINK  LINK to regular sized versions of his political cartoons (archive).

Please join the monthlies, an automated and the best way to help support Free Republic.  If you opt not to join the automated monthly support program, please consider joining the One One Done project.  LINK

FReepers, 93.99% of the Second Quarter FReep-a-thon goal has been met.  Click above and pencil in your donation now.  Please folks, lets end this FReepathon.  Thank you!
...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

Just $7.00 to 94.00%

[reasonisfaith]

Marijuana is different from many other drugs, in that it becomes like a personal friend to the user. The reaction to criticism of marijuana is very personalized.

We need a return of morality based on the Christian value system which is based on selflessness.

Marijuana is a very potent driver of self-centered childishness and apathy.

[iontheball]

If this is true, why in the world would Sessions ask the Legislative Branch for permission to do his job? There are plenty criminal laws on the books right now to address marijuana.

[Drew68]

Sessions understands the damaging effects of marijuana on society.

A growing majority of American voters disagree, including millions who voted for Jeff Session's boss.

[gibsonguy]

I would think stopping a Presidential coup is a bit more important.

[dirtboy]

In most states, it takes a doctor’s examination to get a medical marijuana permit. Someone has to be diagnosed with at least one defined medical issues, such as chronic pain or PTSD, to qualify. So this isn’t about millenials getting recreational pot. But I guess that doesn’t stop you from trying to muddy the waters on this subject, since you obviously have your own prohibitionist axe to grind. BTW, I don’t smoke pot, but I do know someone who has a medical marijuana permit.

[Redmen4ever]

This is a funny thing, legislating through the budget. It’s funny, but it’s not at all unusual.

[Drew68]

If this is true

If The Washington Post told me the sun rises in the east, I'd have to go outside and check for myself.

I never know what is true anymore, except if it makes Trump look bad or sows division amongst his base, the WP will run with it. Fact-checking not necessary.

[luckystarmom]

I had a very dear friend who was a very, very coservative Christian and a nurse.

When she had colon cancer she started using medical marijuana. She said it really helped her be able to eat.

There’s also research about it helping epilepsy which one of my daughter’s has.

My other daughter has a movement disorder, dystonia. Lots of research on the use of medicinal marijuana helping it.

The treatments for epilepsy and dystonia include the use of terrible drugs with terrible side effects. If mdecinal marijuana helps, then it may actually have less severe side effects.

I do know the one complaint my friend had was that medicinal marijuana was not regulated. She had one supplier whose marijuana did not have the side effects. She took it as a pill and did not get stone. When that supplier went out of business she had to switch, and she said other providers were not as good.

[reasonisfaith]

The vast majority of medical marijuana use is in truth recreational.

[luckystarmom]

By the way, my friend died of colon cancer.

[Uncle Sam 911]

Our next Republican ticket: Pence/Sessions.