Was Jeff Sessions The Right Choice?

"Jeff Sessions" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore

When President Trump chose Jeff Sessions as his Attorney General, I thought he had made a relatively strong choice. Admittedly, part of the reason I liked him, however, was just because of how much Democrats and the media absolutely detested him. In fact, their outrage and autistic screeching over his nomination, was nothing short of delectable for a Trump supporter like me.

He seemed solid on immigration issues and other parts of Trump’s agenda. In fact, aside from his stance on legalizing marijuana, I agreed with him on almost all issues. He was relatively passive, in a very “un-Trump” sort of way. But my assumption was that Trump wouldn’t have chosen him if he didn’t have the balls it would take to do the job.

I admit it - I think I might have been wrong.

"Jeff Sessions" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore

As the ridiculous “Russian collusion” special investigation kicked off, Sessions quickly recused himself. A decision which I understand, but disagree with. Considering all the lies, mud-slinging and distortion of the truth from the left, Trump needed his Attorney General by his side to keep the investigation focused on the facts rather than feelings, so it could be quickly and efficiently conducted. Then when the time came, it could be closed, rather than exploited. Instead, Sessions checked out before the first bell rang.

I realize that had he not recused himself from the investigation, any hint at ending it without indicting Trump and everyone who had ever served on the campaign, would have quickly erupted into hysteria from the media and other liberals. But how is that any different from what has been happening anyway, even with Sessions' recusal?

Jeff Sessions failed the President.

"Mike Pence & Jeff Sessions" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore

Then this week, since I can only assume Mr. Sessions’ recusal from the investigation in the Justice Department left him with some extra time on his hands, he decided to go right ahead and take a few minutes to do his best to destroy the up and coming medicinal and recreational cannabis (marijuana) industry. He did this by rescinding an Obama-era memo, which let states choose their level of enforcement or legalization of marijuana use. This now leaves it up to federal prosecutors to decide how stringently to enforce federal laws; even in states that have de-criminalized or legalized its use.

Now his sentiment in trying to do the right thing and uphold the law, can be appreciated. If something is illegal, it should be treated as such (if only we could do the same with illegal immigration). This enforcement of current marijuana laws could spearhead actual changes and steps toward national legalization, regulation and taxation of this plant.

Yes, I said plant. Because that’s what it is.

"Weed Marijuana Cannabis 420" (Public Domain) by WeedStreetwear420

Mr. Sessions on the other hand, decided to double down with statements that “good people don’t smoke marijuana”, and that it is “nearly as dangerous as heroin” (a drug that literally kills thousands of people each year), then went on to say that marijuana is “only slightly less awful”.

I myself have smoked marijuana a few times in my life, and I know many incredibly “good people” who smoke it regularly. Personally, I don’t care for it. I like being in control of myself, and smoking weed severely limited that control for me. It slowed my thinking, delayed my reaction time, and made it difficult for me to concentrate or turn my thoughts into intelligible verbal dialogue. But for all the questionable things I could say about weed, it worked wonders when I was having an anxiety attack.

At that point, I didn’t need to function - I needed to relax; and that is exactly what marijuana did for me. At the time, I had a prescription to Xanax. Taking that prescribed medicine had a very similar effect on me, except that Xanax made me want to sleep, while weed made me want to listen to music, look at art, taste new foods, and ultimately solve all of the world’s problems, without moving from my couch.

Now, do I think people should be able to get stoned and then drive their car to work and spend the next eight hours operating heavy machinery? Absolutely not. In this aspect, weed should be treated no differently than alcohol. But if it can do anyone any good from a medicinal standpoint, or just make it easier to deal with the day-to-day insanity taking place in our country right now, I’m all for it.

"American Pot - 2015" (Public Domain) by Jurassic Blueberries

More importantly, at a point in time where we are roughly $21,000,000,000,000 in debt (give or take a billion dollars or so) and continue having a deficit between income (taxes) and operating expenses of our country, maybe, just MAYBE, we should admit that we have a spending problem, and consider legalizing marijuana use so we can regulate it and then tax the hell out of it. After all, you work so hard to steal our paychecks from us already...do you really want all of those potential taxable dollars going to Mexican drug cartels rather than back into the U.S. Economy?

But hey, if you don’t like the idea of regulating and taxing weed, maybe instead we could just cut the salaries of all elected and appointed government officials (yes, even you, Mr. Sessions) down to the median U.S. income ($56,516) and take away your free healthcare. After all, I'm sure it’s what our forefathers would have wanted.