US Drug Czar Unloads On Medical Marijuana in SF

Top drug cop is not a fan of liberal drug policies

It's legal to use medical marijuana for certain ailments in California -- but that doesn't mean Gil Kerlikowske has to like it.

President Barack Obama's drug czar was in San Francisco on Monday to speak at a gathering of law enforcement officers at the University of San Francisco, where he said that "calling it medicine sends a terrible message" to the nation's youth, according to the San Francisco Examiner.

Kerlikowske heads the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a White House-level non-Cabinet position that advises federal officials on drug control strategies.

Kerlikowske did say that there is no "war on drugs" -- rather, there is a growing effort to ensure that drug users receive education and treatment instead of solely receiving penal punishment, he said.

But his comments about marijuana and drug legalization seemed to generate the most interest. He was police chief in Seattle, where voters in Washington have legalized marijuana for adults. He also had stern words for drug legalization, calling it a "false choice."

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us