Rand Paul: Marijuana Use Is Not Something To 'Promote,' But 'It's A Big Mistake' To Jail People Over It

Riding the high of his win in last week's CPAC straw poll, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) addressed a different kind of high on Sunday.

In an interview with Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace , Paul was asked why he advocates for more lenient marijuana laws.

I don't want to promote that but I also don't want to put people in jail who make a mistake," Paul explained. "There are a lot of young people who do this and then later on in their twenties they grow up and get married and they quit doing things like this. I don't want to put them in jail and ruin their lives."

That led Paul to mention some bigger figures who have been linked to marijuana in the past -- Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

"Look, the last two presidents could conceivably have been put in jail for their drug use, and I really think, you know, look what would have happened, it would have ruined their lives," Paul added. "They got lucky, but a lot of poor kids, particularly in the inner city, don't get lucky. They don't have good attorneys, and they go to jail for these things and I think it's a big mistake."

Within his memoir, "Dreams From My Father," Obama detailed his use, writing that "pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." Back in 2005, a tape surfaced suggesting Bush used marijuana , but he would not admit to doing so.

Back in November, Paul outlined similar views , explaining how he is personally against marijuana use but sees states as the right place for decisions to be made.

"States should be allowed to make a lot of these decisions," Paul said. "I want things to be decided more at a local basis, with more compassion. I think it would make us as Republicans different."