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Kasich squabbles with Colbert over weed laws

by Jordan Fabian - 11/07/15 10:13 AM ET

Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Friday night sparred with late night talk show host Stephen Colbert over his opposition to decriminalizing marijuana.

The “Late Show” host called the Republican presidential candidate a “reasonable” candidate, but repeatedly pressed him about his position on legal pot, days after the failure of an Ohio ballot measure that would have legalized weed, which Kasich opposed.

{mosads}Making marijuana legal would send a “mixed message” to children about the dangers of drug abuse at a time when many communities across the nation are grappling with heroin and opioid abuse, Kasich argued.

“The problem is, we have a huge crisis in this country,” the governor said.

“Is that really pot, the drug crisis?” Colbert responded, adding that many people go to jail for minor drug offenses “and it ruins their entire life.”

The governor explained that in Ohio, people who are charged with minor marijuana possession usually receive a fine, not jail time.

Kasich said he smoked marijuana during his youth, but was never caught by police, prompting Colbert to ask him whether he could have become governor with a criminal record.

“It ruins a life to have that police record, ‘cause you can’t get a job,” Colbert said.

Kasich replied that his state expunges the records of many nonviolent felons so they can get jobs, which Colbert praised.

“The problem with marijuana is this, we don’t want to tell our kids, ‘Don’t do drugs, but by the way, this drug’s OK,’ ” Kasich said.

“Isn’t that what alcohol is?” Colbert asked, earning applause from the audience. When Kasich went on to explain his experience speaking to families who have dealt with heroin addiction, Colbert shot back, “I want to be clear, I’m not arguing for legalizing heroin.”

Kasch reiterated that he would support medical marijuana if researchers show it could help treat conditions, such as seizures.

Tags John Kasich Stephen Colbert