Of the three candidates for the job, we’ve only gone and ended up with the worst-case scenario…
It’s pretty safe to say something the United States cannabis community in general did not want to see is the establishment of a new White House administration with a decidedly anti-pot agenda. Over recent years, much of the US has made the most incredibly positive progress, in terms of both medical marijuana and recreational cannabis alike. Indeed, we seem to have entered a period in time where the United States in general acknowledges and understands the importance of cannabis in medicinal circles. When it comes to recreational cannabis though, it’s a very different story.
As you probably already know, Federal law still classifies cannabis as illegal. Which technically means that if it wanted to, the Federal government could clamp down on the entire cannabis industry and prosecute every single individual currently taking part therein. It’s definitely not the kind of eventuality most would realistically expect to see, but given the way things are going at the moment…well, nothing is beyond the realms of possibility.
There have been plenty of times in years gone by when Donald Trump has gone on record to affirm generally progressive and positive views on drug reform. He has stated on more than one occasion that he firmly believes in the importance of medical cannabis, while at the same time having every intention of allowing individual states themselves to make their own rules and policies with regard to both recreational and medical marijuana. Which of course paints a positive picture, with the only problem being that Trump is not going to be making all the most important decisions on his own.
Instead, it will be a responsibility shared between his cabinet members – many of whom may have entirely different opinions than his own. The most terrifying prospect of all being the new Atty. General who will indeed have the power to enforce Federal prohibition nationwide, should he wish to do so.
Trump could technically order him not to, but should the decision reach this stage in the first place, this is unlikely to happen.
The fact that said Atty. General is none other than Jeff Sessions really is about as scary as it gets.
An Unknown Agenda
A full 29 North American states now permit the use of cannabis in one form or another – more than half of the entire country. In addition, it is widely believed that further states will seek to bring in similar measures over the coming years.
As it stands, nobody really knows exactly what the agenda of the Atty. General will be when it comes to pot. Nevertheless, experts and observers alike pretty much agreed that of the three shortlisted candidates, the worst of the three by far was and is Sessions. Suffice to say, none of them represented anything close to good news for the cannabis community, but the outcome couldn’t have been worse.
Out of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, we’d have probably taken either of the others as a preferable alternative.
It’s too late to go back now, but check out the following and you’ll see why Sessions gaining power could be bad news for millions:
Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
First of all, Rudy Giuliani secured his name in NYC history by massively increasing policy aggression on cannabis use in general. He adopted a zero tolerance approach to cannabis, which during his time in office prompted a 2,600% increase in cannabis arrests. In fact, in one single year – that being the year 2000 – more than 50,000 people were arrested for cannabis related crimes in New York City.
Of course, what we can’t be sure of right now is whether this intense war on cannabis that took place during his time in office actually came down to his own personal views specifically. The reason being that since he left the position, he hasn’t once spoken openly about the subject and nor has he made it clear whether or not his current standpoint on cannabis is any different than it was a decade ago. Cannabis campaigners across the country were united in their concerns that should Rudy Giuliani be given the top job by Trump, it could lead to history repeating itself on a much larger scale.
Indeed, one particular statement muttered by Rudy Giuliani last year doesn’t exactly paint the best possible picture for pro-cannabis supporters:
“What I did for New York, Donald Trump will do for America.”
Let’s hope not!
Chris Christie
Chris Christie
Should the post have been handed to Chris Christie, those in the medical marijuana industry probably would have had no real cause for concern. However, anyone with a taste for recreational cannabis could be staring their own personal antichrist in the face. The reason being that while New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has voiced his strong and on-going support for medical marijuana on numerous occasions, he is massively against recreational cannabis in all its forms. He doesn’t make any secret of this either, having issued the following statement earlier this year which is nothing short of terrifying:
“If you’re getting high in Colorado today, enjoy it. As of January 2017, I will enforce the federal laws.”
Of course he won’t, seeing as he didn’t get the job…thank God!
Or even just last week when Christie said he will ensure he is the one person who prevents New Jersey having recreational cannabis laws.
Such a ridiculously aggressive and one-sided argument did not particularly win him a great deal of favour either side of the fence. The very prospect of immediately and totally withdrawing the legality of recreational cannabis across several states for tens of millions of people is absolutely ludicrous. If nothing else, the economic impact it would have would be devastating – not to mention the protests and riots that could be expected across countless states.
It’s an unthinkable outcome, but at the same time, the same was said about a victory for Donald Trump. Likewise, so was the likelihood of the following chap becoming the next Atty. General:
Jeff Sessions
Jeff Sessions
To be frank, the only thing you really need to know about Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions is that he is spectacularly consistent in his massive and aggressive opposition to cannabis legalization. In fact, Sessions was perhaps the only politician in the United States that was considered a worse candidate for the job than Christie – at least in the eyes of cannabis supporters. It’s a bit of a nightmare, truth be told.
When it comes to blinkered, counterproductive and borderline offensive views, Sessions really does take the cake. Not only does he believe that cannabis legalization is no less than the devil itself, but he doesn’t even want the subject to be discussed.
“You can’t have the President of the United States of America talking about marijuana,” he said during a Senate meeting last March.
“You are sending a message to young people that there is no danger in this process. It is false that marijuana use doesn’t lead people to more drug use. It is already causing a disturbance in the States that have made it legal.”
Not only this, but he once stated that as far as he’s concerned, the only thing bad about the KKK is the fact that they smoke pot. He went on to say he was kidding, but still…not funny Jeff.
So as far as he’s concerned, he wants to roll things back to a time when the subject of cannabis was so taboo, nobody dared to talk publicly about it. Suffice to say, chances are even those in the anti-cannabis camp would agree that this kind of approach to cannabis policy would do nothing but harm and hold back the United States, rather than have any real benefit whatsoever for the public in general.
“This drug is dangerous, you cannot play with it, it is not funny, it’s not something to laugh about… and send that message with clarity that good people don’t smoke marijuana.”
The words of the man that will soon have the power to enforce Federal cannabis law nationwide.
Summed up in one word…terrifying!
What do you think the future of Cannabis legalization holds with Jeff Sessions as Attorney General? Let us know in the comments below.
