Schwarzenegger: "No One Cares If You Smoke A Joint or Not"

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California said Monday that he is glad Proposition 19, which would have legalized recreational marijuana use in his state, was defeated - even though "no one cares if you smoke a joint or not."

Appearing on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Schwarzenegger said "Proposition 19 went a little bit too far, I think."

"Propositions don't die because the idea is bad, it just dies because it is written wrong," he added.

Schwarzenegger said his decision to sign a bill last month that reduces the charge for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction hurt Prop. 19's chances.

"It makes [possession] from a misdemeanor to an infraction, which is like a speeding ticket. And no one cares if you smoke a joint or not," he told Leno.

Voters defeated Prop. 19 by a 54 percent to 46 percent margin.

Schwarzenegger endorsed the decisions of California voters on all the propositions, in fact, saying they did "an extraordinary job" on all of them.

Asked why he chose not to endorse either Meg Whitman or Jerry Brown for governor, Schwarzenegger, a Republican, joked that he "couldn't understand the accent," before adding: "I just wanted to stay out of it."

He declined to tell Leno who he voted for.

"I think that's private," he said. "This is between myself and the person Maria tells me to vote for."

Schwarzenegger said he would have fond memories of governing the state.

"I wish it wasn't over," he said. "It was one of the greatest decisions I've ever made. Working for the people of California really was a great pleasure for me, it was a great honor."

CBSNews.com Special Report: Marijuana Nation

[docelb]

It needs to be illegal because some people who smoke are irresponsible, Where I live the neighbors smokes pot and there is times it smells so bad I can't open my doors, windows or even go in my garage, When some drinks the alcohol doesn't impact my life, I have never not been able to open my doors, windows or go into my garage because people where drinking alcohol so there is a big difference between the two.

[documemts]

Smoke 'em if ya got 'em.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
Schwarzenegger: "No One Cares If You Smoke A Joint or Not"
si vous le dites, c'est que vous vous en souciez.

"I wish it wasn't over," he said. "It was one of the greatest decisions I've ever made. Working for the people of California really was a great pleasure for me, it was a great honor."

j'aurai dit pareil si j'avais gouvern? la californie..lol !!, nous aimons l'acteur exceptionnel qu'est "Arnold Schwarzenegger" au revoir

[Multi-Basking]

Sure. Now he says it! On his way out the door. Thanks for nothing Arnold.

[rafaeldrc]

There seem to be three kinds of people relative to the world of marijuana: (1) Those that smoke and cannot stop. They say they can stop (if they want) but any excuse will do to light up. (2) Those that smoke once and a while, or did for a while then got tired of it. (3) Those who have never smoked. For those that have crossed the line, they know that the fear generated against its use is way overblown and its time to legalize it and move on (US 18th and 21st Amendment). Some people get paranoid after lighting up, other people become belligerent after a drink or two. In general, the majority of people can deal with a little intoxication without harmful outcomes.

[cyberus-2009]

These types aren't just for pot, this can describe almost everything that can provide a buzz (high or low) from booze to OTC med mixes. IMHO an addictive personality will find something to be addicted to, legal or not.

[two-cats]

It would be a big mistake to assume that liberals want pot legalized. This family doesn't want it. I especially care if a person smokes a joint and then gets behind the wheel. Pot is a drug and it has deleterious effects on motivation, critical thinking, and response time to stimuli. Occasional use may not be harmful but steady use is harmful. People who think it is just a mild drug are wrong. It can really distort reality and make many people paranoid.

[suprimacy1]

Weird you say it effects motivation. Arnold Wasn't have a smoker marijuana and 15 street olympias within how many movies and was governor of california.

[Just_Wonder]

suprimacy1 - Are you trying to make a point here? From your post I'm guessing you just smoked a joint and are now having problems with critical thinking and communications. In other words dude - your post is unitelligible.

[bradkt1]

My experience is that the pot smokers that I know are a lot more mellow and easy to get along with than many of the uptight jerks I had to deal with on a day-day basis before I retired...and no, I don't smoke pot anymore. I just refuse to make moral judgements about those who do.

[Just_Wonder]

suprimacy1 - Oh come on now! (Interesting handle by the way - is there a hidden meaning?)

[Biker-N-OH1]

They are trying to legalize pot in CA because the pot smokers are the only ones who keep voteing for Pelosi. Ya'll gotta be high to vote for her.

[Biker-N-OH1]

I never said it was just liberals, I just said that they had to be high to elect her.

[inketolstoy]

California is bankrupt. They are borrowing tens of millions everyday from the Feds (us) to pay for their state's unemployment and their governor is choosing to talk about how he doesn't care if you smoke dope on late night television in his final months. California is burning, and the Terminator is playing his fiddle. Thank you for serving as an example of what the rest of the country should strive to not become.

[MurdochSucks]

Aren't all states hurting right now because of the same issues? Alaska's debt to GDP is 70%, CA debt to GDP is 4%. I'd say of the two, I'd rather live in CA.

[MurdochSucks]

One other thing you might find interesting before castigating CA, is that we receive 80 cents on every dollar that we generate in federal tax, so that Red states can take more than they put in. So, you're welcome.

[thebob-bob]

Marijuana laws are a vestige of the culture wars of the sixties. Only the cynical and divisive policies of Republicans keeps them on the books. A waste of money on enforcement and prisons and a loss of income on the possible taxes. Let's see if the TEA party libertarians jettison these anachronistic laws.

[MurdochSucks]

They won't. They tout smaller government, but what they really fight for is different government... just as big, just as interfering, but in different ways.