DENVER — (CNN) Former President Bill Clinton and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack may have just unintentionally added themselves to the growing list of pot-supporting politicians.
Vilsack, who is also a former governor of Iowa, was on stage with Clinton for the 2015 Clinton Global Initiative America Meeting in Denver on Wednesday.
While telling Clinton a story on stage, Vilsack noted that marijuana is one of the most profitable crops in the United States.
He said that while visiting Milwaukee, a friend showed him “greens,” implying local produce, an acre of which could fetch $1 million.
“With the exception of Colorado and a few other states that have legalized another product, there are not very many commodities that you can plant, Mr. President, an acre of and get a million bucks” he said.
The audience cheered as Clinton laughed and appeared to cover his face.
“Dear Lord, that’s all I need, one more story,” Clinton said, smiling. “If only the marijuana growers would invite me to give a speech.”
In the past, Clinton has spoken about marijuana, famously saying that although he tried it in his youth, he claims he “didn’t inhale.”
Last year, he said that he believes marijuana legalization should be for the states and not the federal government.
“Look, I think there’s a lot of evidence to argue for the medical marijuana thing,” Clinton said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “This really is a time when there should be laboratories of democracy, because nobody really knows where this is going.”
Hillary Clinton has not spoken on the subject since announcing her 2016 candidacy, but in the past has said she wants to watch how it plays out with the states before making it national issue.
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