Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) doesn’t promote marijuana legalization, but he does think punishment for non-violent drug offenders shouldn’t include jail time.
The Kentucky Senator, who appeared on ‘Fox News Sunday‘ this week, said that many young people smoke marijuana, but then “grow up” and stop doing it. And while he doesn’t encourage people to do drugs, he also doesn’t want to ruin their lives by throwing them in jail.
“The last two presidents could conceivably have been put in jail for their drug use, and I really think — look what would have happened,” he noted, referencing the admitted drug use of Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush during their youth.
“It would have ruined their lives,” Paul added.
“Actually, I think it would be the last three presidents, but who’s counting?” host Chris Wallace joked, including former President Bill Clinton on that list, before adding, “Well, he didn’t inhale.”
Paul’s statements on Sunday morning are reflective of the bill he and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced last week that would give judges the ability to sentence drug offenders to shorter prison terms than those required by the federal mandatory minimum.
“There are people in jail for 37, 50, 45 years, for nonviolent crimes, and that is a huge mistake,” Paul said on Fox. “Our prisons are full of nonviolent criminals.”
