Democrats must seize on Jeff Sessions misguided marijuana policy

[workinclasszero]

Democrats must seize on Jeff Sessions’ misguided marijuana policy
Jeff Sessions has unintentionally given Democrats a cause they can all agree on — and it’s a big political winner
MATTHEW ROZSA 01.07.2018•10:00 AM

As of October, a whopping 64 percent of Americans supported legalizing marijuana, continuing a steady increase that began back in 2012. Yet as with the movement to legalize same-sex marriage — one in which the people came around to the idea much more quickly than elected officials, although a handful of states moved in the right direction — politicians have been remarkably slow when it comes to supporting marijuana legalization.

As experts have pointed out time and time again, there is virtually no argument to be made against marijuana that couldn't also be made against alcohol. Alcohol is far more likely to kill you than marijuana. It is more likely to impair your judgment to the point that you commit violent crimes. Its deleterious effects on your health are almost certainly worse.

This is a winning issue for Democrats, and also a chance to embrace the concept of "liberty" too often co-opted by conservatives. Let us hope that the Democrats of 2020 have the spine to reject Sessions' backward-looking policy and end the great prohibition of our time.

https://www.salon.com/2018/01/07/democrats-must-seize-on-jeff-sessions-misguided-marijuana-policy/

[Wounded Bear]

1. It may vary from district to district, but yeah, this looks like a winner for Dems...

[workinclasszero]

2. It's a no brainer really

I hope the party gets behind it quickly.

[Towlie]

3. Forcing Sessions out and replacing him with someone who can fire Mueller is NOT a "winner for Dems."

The notion that Democrats want Sessions gone is not something we want to put inside Trump's head because he could exploit it today, just as he exploited James Comey's alleged mishandling of the Hillary Clinton email matter as an excuse to fire him.

An idea that might good in the future could be a very dangerous idea to spread around today.

[Wounded Bear]

5. It's not about "forcing Sessions out." It's about rationalizing our MJ stance...

I suppose Trump may try to frame it that way, and his minions are out of reach anyway, but Dems need to reach out to those voters who typically stay away. This sounds like an issue for Dems to make inroads on those folks. "Hey, come out and help us make pot legal nationwide."

[workinclasszero]

7. No kidding

How many libertarians would vote dem if legal cannabis was part of the platform?

You want to get younger folks out to vote this year and make the blue wave a blue tsunami instead?

This is one way to do that.

Hell you don't even have to be brave about it. 64% of the population is for it!

[bluestarone]

10. i worry that tRump will get rid of Sessions then say i want pot smoking legal

that would be a DOUBLE WIN for him (get rid of Sessions AND get pot smokers to support him)

[Wounded Bear]

11. Nothing we can do about that...

Other than point out that Trump never keeps his promises. Again, Trumplodytes won't listen, but if we can target and motivate those who too often sit out elections, we can win big.

[bluestarone]

13. a plus for us tho is

i believe the pot smokers ALREADY know who TRULY supports them!!!! (WE DO)

[SamKnause]

4. From the article: Alcohol is far more likely to kill you than marijuana.

There is not one, I repeat, there is not one documented death attributed to marijuana !!!

Also, the term marijuana was concocted during Reefer Madness.

It is cannabis !!!!

[duforsure]

6. From studies done

Which they hide or reject, even though they funded them, the health benefits of MMJ far outweigh any false claims they often use against it being made legal. They can't claim Glaucoma isn't helped, or cancer, or neurological conditions , seizures, pain, or other medical conditions, but falsely claim its harmful. Hospitals around the world, even in this country are allowing its use medically, and they'll never stop it. This is all about targeting minorities for criminalization from trump and sessions, because they're racists, and want to promote their private prisons for more campaign funding. Hillary missed her chance not backing legalization, which costed her a lot, so will the Democrats come to terms it'll help them this time? Medical should be made fully legal in this country, period, and if they don't Congress will become targeted too for replacements who will. The polls FOR Medical use is in the 90's now. Vets suffering from wars is a huge issue now, and they know it helps them a lot. The American people have tired of their excuses.

[McCamy Taylor]

8. Agree. The Libertarian GOP's like Trump. They don't like Sessions.

This is the kind of issue that could cause self styled Republicans in the western states to come out to vote for the Democrats. I.e. it is an active issue, not just a "let's get the Republicans to stay home in disgust" issue.

Hammer on this one hard enough and the Kremlin will be forced to spend a lot of money funding third party splitter "weed" candidates in all the western US which will deplete their resources.

Sessions is obviously not fit for national politics. He is too used to pandering to the local "Control the Sinnners!" Republican Party in his own state.

[bronxiteforever]

9. Someone needs to ask Sarah Huckster the Cons position

[jmowreader]

14. You also left out...

It’s easier to tell if your teen has been smoking weed than drinking vodka because vodka drinking has no telltale aroma...cannabis smoking is a different story.