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Bryan Fischer, American Family Association Spokesman, Says Decriminalize Marijuana

Conservative Radio Host: Decriminalize Marijuana

A conservative radio host for an anti-gay group suggested punishing marijuana use with the equivalent of a speeding ticket on Sunday.

Bryan Fischer, the director of issues analysis for the American Family Association (labeled by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group), was responding to a comment from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on "Fox News Sunday" that marijuana use wasn't worth throwing people in jail for. Taking to Twitter, Fischer agreed.

Sen. Paul doesn't want send folks to jail for marijuana beef. Fine. Make 'em pay a fine, like we do for speeding tickets.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanJFischer) March 24, 2013

As Salon's Jillian Rayfield noted, Fischer is only the latest in a series of Christian conservatives to loosen up about pot. Pat Robertson backed full legalization earlier in March.

Fischer's position isn't as advanced as Robertson's. He has previously blasted legalization as "a really bad idea" and claimed -- again responding to Rand Paul -- that marijuana causes brain damage.

A December Quinnipiac poll found that 51 percent of American voters, and 31 percent of Republicans, support fully legalizing pot.

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