Makes me chuckle, these prankster Republicans. On Feb. 9, I read in the Camera that Attorney General Jeff Sessions joked people should be taking aspirin instead of opioids for pain. “People need to take some aspirin sometimes and tough it out,” he reportedly said. I guess he thinks that might solve the opioid epidemic.

Years ago, the Republican donor Foster Friess jokingly recommended an aspirin between the knees for women seeking a reliable contraceptive. Thus, the aspirin solution.

But when it comes to the war on drugs Sessions’ joking is hardly funny. His sclerotic thinking still identifies marijuana as a “gateway drug” leading invariably to opioid addiction, and he still appears committed to busting and imprisoning people even for minor drug violations. Since the 1930s, the war on drugs hasn’t been won. Yet the nation continues the same mindless spending that breeds the same cycle of smuggling, violence and addiction.

To break this, we need new thinking in government. As a start I’d suggest Sessions read “Chasing the Scream” by Johann Hari and “Smoke and Mirrors” by Dan Baum. Let’s get beyond the aspirin jokes.

Dave Stolz