Meet the Republican Senator who is Trying to Legalize Marijuana

By /u/IGotzDaMastaPlan, ABC News

Washington, D.C. - July 9th, 2017

/u/Leafy_Emerald is a Republican Senator who was first elected last fall with 67.43% of the vote in Arkansas, a Southern state that usually breeds the kinds of politicians you’d expect, conservative Republicans and moderate Democrats. These politicians, however, are not the kind you would expect to legalize marijuana. Yet still, Sen. /u/Leafy_Emerald has put the highly controversial issue on the congressional docket. ABC News sat down for an interview with him to talk about this issue.

Mr. Senator, thank you for joining us today.

The Senator remained silent, calmly awaiting the first question.

You recently sponsored a bill that would legalize marijuana, is that correct?

“Yes, it is correct that I recently sponsored a bill that would legalize marijuana.”

Let’s get right to the meat of the issue, then. Why do you think nation should legalize the usage, sale, and production of marijuana?

“I believe that the nation should legalize the usage, sale and production of marijuana because I believe that leaving it criminalized will cause more harm than good, because it is a source of revenue for organized crime and drug cartels. Not only that, but it has ruined many people's’ opportunity to get employed because of them smoking something that is relatively harmless. Legalizing marijuana would also cut a revenue stream from organized crime. Not only that but I believe that people should have the right to decide what they smoke and do with their own bodies, and I believe that many people share that sentiment.”

You’re from a fairly conservative state, do you worry that this decision might anger your constituents?

“No not really, to be honest.”

Along the same lines, do you worry that a decision like this could alienate you from the Republican Party, or even cost you your position as majority whip?

“As I said, no not really, as at least a few people support legalization or decriminalization in our party. I do not think that this will cost me my position as Majority Whip as already previous to me becoming Majority Whip I made my opinion about legalizing marijuana clear.”

As a final question, do you believe that this proposal can gain enough support to pass into law?

“I think so, because a good portion of Democrats support legislation too. And a good portion of Republicans support it too.”

This concludes the interview.

As it seems, the Senator is quite optimistic about his future prospects, along with the bill in question's chances at becoming law. Whether or not this optimism is blind or justified will reveal itself in due time.