If New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ever becomes president, he plans a full on assault on legalized marijuana initiatives,
The Huffington Post reports.
Speaking with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Christie spoke out against what he sees as "an enormous addiction problem" across the country, the Post said. Christie, who has not yet announced whether he will seek a 2016 GOP presidential bid, said he would enforce federal drug laws if elected.
"Absolutely. I will crack down and not permit it," Christie said of cannabis use, which is still not allowed under federal law.
The former prosecutor has said in the past that he believes such laws, now in 23 states, are a "front" for recreational drug use, the Post said, noting Christie's adamant pushback on any such future marijuana use law for New Jersey.
"Marijuana is a gateway drug," Christie told Hewitt,
according to Reason.
"We have an enormous addiction problem in this country," he added. "And we need to send very clear leadership from the White House on down through the federal law enforcement. Marijuana is an illegal drug under federal law. And the states should not be permitted to sell it and profit from it."
Christie last year said he would tepidly support a medical marijuana use law in his state, even as demand for the program was not high,
New Jersey Advance Media reported. But he has been clear that he thinks that such measures are a front for making money off of marijuana sales for recreational users.
"I am not going to allow de-facto legalization of marijuana in this state or regular legalization of marijuana in this state by statute. It's not going to happen on my watch," he said.
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