reefer madness

Which New York Politicians Have Smoked Pot, and How Embarrassed Are They About It?

Last week, attorney general and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Cuomo was asked whether he’s ever smoked pot (he has) or done any harder drugs (he hasn’t). The next day, his likely Republican opponent, Rick Lazio, confirmed that he, too, had gotten high. Neither admission was new. And, of course, nobody really cares — we’re long past the days when politicians were compelled to awkwardly equivocate about past drug use (“But I didn’t inhale”), although many New York pols still feel obligated to at least pretend they didn’t enjoy it. Still, as the following slideshow demonstrates, others will gladly tell you about using cocaine (Governor Paterson) or cooking marijuana into a delicious pot of baked beans (George Pataki).

Which New York Politicians Have Smoked Pot, and How Embarrassed Are They About It?