John Oliver Slams the U.S.’s Hypocritical Marijuana Laws

John Oliver took the time to delve into the United States’ notably inconsistent marijuana laws. Oliver spoke on how individuals who are in compliance with state laws may still be at legal risk, saying “If you have marijuana right now, even if you are acting completely legally according to your state, you may still be in serious jeopardy.”

As it stands, forty-four states currently have some form of medical marijuana law, while eight of those have gone so far as to legalize recreational use.

Per Oliver, the majority of state and federal law issues surrounding cannabis link back to President Nixon’s Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which states that marijuana is alongside heroin and methamphetamine as a Schedule I drug, defined by the DEA as substances with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

For the English talk show host, he broke down the issues on a more human, everyday level. To hear what he had to say, press play above.

This piece originally appeared on: http://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/04/03/john-oliver-marijuana-laws/