Hillary Rodham Clinton says the federal government should not prevent states such as Colorado from legalizing marijuana.  

“I really believe it’s important that states like Colorado lead the way, so that we can learn what works and what doesn’t work,” she told KUSA-TV in Colorado. “And I would certainly not want the federal government to interfere with the legal decision made by the people of Colorado, and enforced by your elected officials, as to how you should be conducting this business that you have approved. So, no, I want to give you the space and I want other states to learn from you, what works and what doesn’t work.” Clinton’s remarks came a day after the first Democratic presidential debate on CNN, where she said she wasn’t ready to endorse legal recreational marijuana but did support the use of medical marijuana, including more research.  

She also said Tuesday night that marijuana users should not be imprisoned.  

Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., moved to her left at the debate, saying he would probably vote to legalize marijuana on the ballot if he lived in Nevada.  

Clinton’s approach is similar to President Barack Obama, who also has a wait-and-see approach on legal marijuana . Obama’s Justice Department has effectively allowed Colorado and other states to legalize the drug without enforcing federal prohibitions.

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