In Vice interview, Obama offers muted enthusiasm for decriminalizing marijuana

President Obama speaks with Vice News about marijuana, other issues — (Image credit: Vice News)

Vice founder Shane Smith saved the top-requested question for last in his high-profile interview with President Obama: What about legalizing weed? "For young people, I'm sorry, but if you legalize marijuana, it would be the biggest part of your legacy," Smith told the president.

"Well, first of all, it shouldn't be youngest people's biggest priority," Obama began, noting that he gets the same question at WhiteHouse.gov. "But let's put this in perspective: Young people, I understand that this is important to you but, you know, you should be thinking about climate change, the economy, jobs, war, and peace. Maybe way at the bottom you should be thinking about marijuana." Obama also noted the downsides of addiction and worried about seeming to encourage marijuana use.

At the same time, the president sounded pretty positive about decriminalizing marijuana, arguing that it would lower the non-violent incarceration rate, help minority communities, and save states a ton of money. He even saw some bipartisan support for decriminalization at the federal level: "At a certain point, if enough states end up decriminalizing, then Congress may then reschedule marijuana" as a less-illegal controlled substance, a move he seemed to favor.

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