Trump says taxpayer dollars shouldn't be wasted to arrest people for small amounts of marijuana

By Jasper Ward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday suggested his support for the decriminalization of marijuana, saying taxpayer dollars should not be wasted arresting people carrying "personal amounts."

"In Florida, like so many other states that have already given their approval, personal amounts of marijuana will be legalized for adults with Amendment 3," Trump said about an effort in his home state to legalize the possession and purchase of up to 3 ounces for adults over the age of 21.

"Whether people like it or not, this will happen through the approval of the voters, so it should be done correctly."

Trump, who is the Republican nominee for president, said state lawmakers should create laws that ban use of marijuana in public spaces.

He added that someone should not be a criminal in one state when marijuana use is legal in others.

"We do not need to ruin lives and waste taxpayer dollars arresting adults with personal amounts of it on them, and no one should grieve a loved one because they died from fentanyl laced marijuana," Trump said.

Marijuana is legal in some form in nearly 40 states.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Daniel Wallis)