In prepared remarks for a speech to law enforcement in Richmond today, he outlined his stance on marijuana use, which he has long opposed, saying that “dependency” on it is “only slightly less awful” than heroin.

I realize this may be an unfashionable belief in a time of growing tolerance of drug use. But too many lives are at stake to worry about being fashionable. 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. Our nation needs to say clearly once again that using drugs will destroy your life.

To that end, he continued, he said he supports a renewed drug awareness campaign on the “terrible truth about drugs”, like the ones rolled out decades ago.

In the ’80s and ’90s, we saw how campaigns stressing prevention brought down drug use and addiction. We can do this again. Educating people and telling them the terrible truth about drugs and addiction will result in better choices. We can reduce the use of drugs, save lives and turn back the surge in crime that inevitably follows in the wake of increased drug abuse.

CHUSE and FF are great examples of why marijuana should be BANNED.

Disagree, weed makes you sterile.

He makes some good points.

Fun fact, that decision was made literally days after the video of one of his daughters smoking (which I have no problem with) was released. Good thing it was in the White House, anyone else and you'd have a no knock DEA raid where they would've shot Bo the dog after he barked at them.

I seriously don't give a fuck when there is a dead cop on a no knock raid. If you're a LEO going to SWAT raid a home because of a few ounces of a plant, then I'm OK if the homeowner kills you after mistaking you for a burglar. Texas has had a few cases and the Grand Juries chose not to indict the homeowners in these cases. Maybe if we had more cases like that, police would reexamine the tactic.

I give a rat's ass about pot but I am with you on the militarized police agencies and their tactics.

and all of that stems from the drug war.

More specifically the keep the seized assets local part.

you gotta love how this dude's middle name literally looks like the word "bureaucracy" =P

This guy makes Rick look like Willie Nelson

I love these assholes (Meat Loaf Christie) who question medicinal value.

I always figured his great grandfather (since he's the 3rd) was a fan of PGT Beauregard, which makes sense in late 19th century, early 20th century south. That is probably the actual origin of the name.

Don't forget the Jefferson (Davis) part.

He is the 21st century embodiment of the worst of the old style southerner, imo. States' rights first and always, until it doesn't serve their limited purposes

I always figured his great grandfather (since he's the 3rd) was a fan of PGT Beauregard, which makes sense in late 19th century, early 20th century south. That is probably the actual origin of the name.

Yeah, he's named after the president of the Confederacy and a Confederate general. It's a wonder his name isn't, like, Nathan Bedford Preston Marshall E. Lee Sessions III.

It's kind of ironic those two names were put together as my understanding is Beauregard and Davis hated each other. It was to the point that Beauregard refused to be a pallbearer at his funeral as he stated: "We have always been enemies. I cannot pretend I am sorry he is gone. I am no hypocrite."