U.S. Supreme Court

Legalize marijuana, urges retired SCOTUS justice

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Cover image from Hachette Book Group.

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says history will view the prohibition against marijuana to be just like that against alcohol in the early 20th century—a mistake not worth the cost, the Associated Press reports.

Stevens, who retired in June 2010, says in an interview with NPR’s “Weekend Edition” that there isn’t must distinction between alcohol and marijuana and that public opinion concerning the latter has changed. The interview will be aired on Saturday.

The 94-year-old former justice has been more visible lately following publication of his new book, Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution. In it, he argues for ending capital punishment and limiting gun rights.

Stevens stirred controversy earlier in the month with his suggestion that the Second Amendment be changed to make it clear that a citizen’s right to bear arms applies only to the citizen’s participation in a state militia.

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