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August 07, 2009 KOMO 4 News-- Czar Kerlikowske: I see no benefit to pot legalization:

Making a his first stop in his old stomping grounds with his new title -- Drug Czar -- former Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske spoke to KOMO/4 hoping to clarify a statement he'd made recently for which he is now taking fire.

Kerlikowske, who departed Seattle earlier this year to take the top post at the Office of National Drug Control Policy, had been quoted as saying "marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit," KOMO/4 reports. Questioned earlier today, Kerlikowske hoped to expand on his statement:

"Sometimes you make a mistake and you work very hard to correct it. That happens. I should've clearly said 'smoked' marijuana and then gone on to say that this is clearly a question that should be answered by the medical community."

Chief K continued, noting that "the No. 1 call from young people for treatment here, after alcohol, is marijuana. So I'm not seeing the benefit to society with legalization at all."