December 14, 2012 06:20 PM UTC

President Obama Says Legalized Marijuana States "Not a HIgh Priority"

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• by: Colorado Pols

Supporters of Amendment 64, the initiative legalizing the possession and eventual commercial sale of marijuana in Colorado, are breathing a small, tentative sigh of relief this morning as they read this report from an interview with ABC News’ Barbara Walters:

President Obama says recreational users of marijuana in states that have legalized the substance should not be a “top priority” of federal law enforcement officials prosecuting the war on drugs.

“We’ve got bigger fish to fry,” Obama said of pot users in Colorado and Washington during an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Barbara Walters.

“It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it’s legal,” he said, invoking the same approach taken toward users of medicinal marijuana in 18 states where it’s legal.

It’s less clear from this teaser story what intentions may be toward the commercial sales aspect of Amendment 64–the story notes the administration’s relatively aggressive, if not total, enforcement of federal law with regard to medical marijuana dispensary businesses. The story also briefly touches on President Obama’s own youthful indiscretions with pot, where he makes it clear that he doesn’t personally encourage its use.

“There are a bunch of things I did that I regret when I was a kid,” Obama told Walters. “My attitude is, substance abuse generally is not good for our kids, not good for our society.

“I want to discourage drug use,” he added.

But it does appear your state constitutional right to light up a personal joint will be respected.

We’ll post President Obama’s interview in its entirety once available from ABC.