The ex-Presidential candidate and outspoken right wing activist stumped all with his latest views on marijuana. His comments made in an interview on Wednesday follow the line he has taken in earlier statements in 2010 and comments made last week on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “The 700 Club” show.
Mr. Robertson said, “I really believe we should treat marijuana the way we treat beverage alcohol … I’ve never used marijuana and I don’t intend to, but it’s just one of those things that I think: this war on drugs just hasn’t succeeded.” Pat Robertson further added, “I believe in working with the hearts of people, and not locking them up.”
Robertson’s remarks were immediately lapped up and hailed by groups in support of marijuana legalization. Pro-marijuana groups said Pat’s remarks were an important endorsement of their efforts to remove penalties and prohibitions on marijuana use.
The issues over marijuana legalization would be soon put to the ballot in Colorado and Washington. Robertson said that though he would not be campaigning for the legalization of marijuana personally, he “absolutely” supported the ballot measures.
Mr. Robertson, 81, also said that he had never embraced legalization of marijuana, but he was convinced that the nation “has gone overboard on this concept of being tough on crime.” According to Pat, government interference in the lives of people should be balanced and be in line with social realities. “It’s completely out of control,” said Pat, “Prisons are being overcrowded with juvenile offenders having to do with drugs. And the penalties, the maximums, some of them could get 10 years for possession of a joint of marijuana. It makes no sense at all.” Talking on other evangelical leaders, Pat Robertson said that “I think they would agree if they understood the facts as I do.”
However, speaking on the issue of legalization, Pat drew the clear line that what he was against was a hyperactive legal system dealing in disproportionate fear and penalties. He said that he was “not encouraging people to use narcotics in any way, shape or form.” However, Pat was again clear that he found little difference between smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol.
Mr. Robertson noted that no directive over marijuana use was found in the Bible though “Jesus made water into wine.”
Mr. Robertson, a devout Christian leader, is also known to have commented recently that the victims of tornadoes in the Midwest could have escaped their fate had they prayed more.