Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial Slams Jeff Sessions' Views On Marijuana

RICHMOND, VA — It's one thing for The New York Times to come out with a lead editorial advocating for the federal government's repeal of the ban on marijuana, something the newspaper did a couple of years ago.

It's quite another for the Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial board, long a bastion of center-right philosophy, to come out with a lead editorial not advocating the same thing, but coming close enough to raise plenty of eyebrows, something the newspaper did last weekend.

The crux of the piece regarded some of the comments from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions when he visited Richmond last Wednesday.

The editorial's online headline was "Jeff Sessions' Reefer Madness" and ran with the above 1949 movie poster image.

Said Sessions: "I reject the idea that America will be a better place if marijuana is sold in every corner store. And 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."

The editorial took particular aim at that comment, pointing out the number of Americans who died from overdosing on heroin and prescription pain relievers in 2015 was about 33,000, compared to zero Americans who died from overdosing on marijuana.

The piece made a point to say it's not suggesting pot is harmless, particularly for youths.

"But to suggest that marijuana use is only slightly better than heroin addiction is simply laughable," according to the editorial. "America is having an important and sober debate about the degree to which marijuana should be restricted. Too bad Sessions isn’t interested in taking part."

The Times editorial was a bit more straightforward in its online headline: "Repeal Prohibition, Again."

Washington, D.C., and Maryland, both of which have different versions of relaxed marijuana regulations, no doubt are more than a bit curious too see how both Sessions and President Trump will address the growing industry.

According to Business Insider, the industry is on track to post $20.2 billion in sales by 2021. The publication provided a list of where in the U.S. it's legal.

Image via the 1949 movie poster "She Shoulda Said No!"