Former NFL player sues Jeff Sessions, calls marijuana laws racist Breaking News Jul 31, 2017

A former National Football League (NFL) player, Marvin Washington, recently sued Attorney General Jeff Sessions over marijuana laws, which he felt are racist. Marvin wants marijuana to be legalized at the federal level.

The suit filed in a federal district court in New York City, alleged that the government, in the garb of Controlled Substances Act (CSA) (passed in 1971), has “wrongfully and unconstitutionally criminalized the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession,” of marijuana which has been categorized as a Schedule I substance. Lethal drugs like LSD and heroin are usually classified as Schedule I substances.

Law biased in criminalization of marijuana

The lawsuit stated that it is a partisan view to dub marijuana cultivation or its sale as criminal. It said that criminalization “arose out of the enactment of legislation underwritten by illegal racial and ethnic animus, and implemented and enforced at the federal level,” especially at the behest of people who have no regards for its scientific properties and benefits. Such people also harbor hatred and bigotry, alleged the suit against Sessions, the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The suit cited two children who bank on marijuana to treat their illnesses apart from a military veteran who needed the drug to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They are also plaintiffs in the lawsuit along with Washington, who has become an advocate for legal marijuana after his retirement from football in 1999. He played for New York Jets as a defensive end.

Marijuana laws impeding his business

One of the reasons why Washington decided to file the lawsuit is that the CSA has been creating hurdles in running his business involving marijuana. He made in-depth studies and then came up with techniques on how football players can use marijuana in pain management and treat concussion-related issues.

Washington and his fellow plaintiffs are confident that their lawsuit will help millions of Americans who are grappling with illness and medical conditions and need marijuana intervention, but are unable to obtain the drug safely.

“In addition, this lawsuit, if successful, would aid in the restoration of communities hardest hit and most egregiously stigmatized by the Federal Government’s misguided and Crusades-like ‘War on Drugs,’” the lawsuit said.

Marijuana has been legalized in some form or the other in 29 U.S states and Washington D.C. Jeff Sessions is a huge critic of marijuana and wants to bar states from legalizing it for both medical and recreational use.

Dealing with addiction

Marijuana is an addictive substance. Its use has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. Be it marijuana, alcohol, opioids or any other street drugs, addiction is a scourge with devastating effects. However, with treatment, one can become sober and overcome an addiction. Hence, if you have a loved one using any substance, do not shy away from treatment, instead seek immediate treatment.

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