‘Stoner’ Tommy Chong says Canada’s pot legislation could set example for U.S.
VANCOUVER — Comedian, musician and pot activist Tommy Chong says he intends to keep “priming the pump” until marijuana is legalized across the United States and in Canada.
Chong, 78, said the introduction of legislation promised for next spring to legalize recreational marijuana in Canada could set an example for the United States, where a state-by-state approach isn’t ideal.
Chong, who is scheduled to appear Thursday at the two-day International Cannabis Business Conference in Vancouver, said he hopes the next American president will legalize pot throughout the U.S. so states can rake in millions of dollars from taxing the drug.
Colorado was the first state to legalize marijuana in 2012, and Washington, Oregon and Alaska followed while about two dozen other states have so far legalized only medical cannabis.