Video: Jared Polis destroys DEA boss, who won't say heroin's worse than pot

No matter where you stand on marijuana legalization, you're likely to find an exchange yesterday between Representative Jared Polis and Drug Enforcement Administrator Michele Leonhart to be flabbergasting. Throughout the conversation (at a Judiciary subcommittee hearing), Leonhart refuses to say that pot is a lesser health problem than crack, or...

By Michael Roberts

June 21, 2012

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No matter where you stand on marijuana legalization, you're likely to find an exchange yesterday between Representative Jared Polis and Drug Enforcement Administrator Michele Leonhart to be flabbergasting. Throughout the conversation (at a Judiciary subcommittee hearing), Leonhart refuses to say that pot is a lesser health problem than crack, or meth, or even heroin. Really. Watch the bizarre standoff below.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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