Pro-marijuana group boosts its grade for Huckabee

A pro-marijuana group has boosted its grade for Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee despite his disarranging comments about the drug.

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is upgrading Huckabee’s rating to a “B-“ from a “D” after he suggested earlier this month that the federal government should not interfere with state laws legalizing recreational pot.

MPP released its ratings of presidential candidates’ stances of marijuana on Monday ahead of the GOP debate later this week in Colorado, where recreational pot has been legalized.

“This idea of recreational marijuana, let’s let Colorado have at it for a few years and let’s see how that works out for them,” Huckabee told a local Iowa television station earlier this month. “I’ve been to Amsterdam a few times; I don’t want us to look like Amsterdam. And a lot of people in Colorado aren’t liking the way that’s headed either.

“I’m willing to let states operate under the 10th Amendment,” the former Arkansas governor added. “I’m willing for the states — if they think that marijuana and the legalization of it is a great thing — I’m willing for them to experiment and find out. And if it works and it turns out that the presence of recreational marijuana makes them a more prosperous state … well heck, we may just all want to reach out there and grab that.”

Huckabee, a former Southern Baptist pastor, went on to say: “I think we need to recognize that marijuana has never made anyone a better citizen. Does it make you a better worker? Does it make you a better mom or dad? A better citizen? Does it make you a more attentive driver?”