Arnold Schwarzenegger has caused outrage by claiming that “no one cares” about whether anyone smokes cannabis.
The California governor used a chat show appearance to defend his new state legislation that makes the punishment for possessing marijuana the equivalent of getting a traffic ticket.
To cheers from the studio audience, he told host Jay Leno: “No one cares if you smoke a joint or not.”
Under his legislation, being caught with up to an ounce of cannabis carries a penalty of no more than a R600 fine, with no arrest or criminal record.
Schwarzenegger claimed that the resources needed to enforce tougher laws on cannabis were not viable in the current economic climate.
The muscle-bound movie star was himself filmed puffing on a marijuana joint 33 years ago in a bodybuilding documentary.
And with only a couple of months left in office, he clearly feels free to speak his mind on what has become a contentious topic in California.
Randy Thomasson, president of the family values group SaveCalifornia, attacked the governor’s “virtual legalisation of marijuana”.
He argued it “definitely sends the wrong message to teenagers and young adults”.
“It invites youth to become addicted to mind-altering pot because there’s not much hassle and no public stigma and no rehab if they’re caught,” he said.