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 "I don't support the legalization of marijuana, and that's been my
position for a long time and will continue to be," Indiana Governor
Mike Pence, a Republican, said on CNN's "State of the Union".
The two western states became the first to legalize marijuana for
recreational use through a ballot initiative in 2012.
Last month, Colorado became the first state to open retail outlets
legally permitted to sell marijuana to adults for recreational
purposes, in a system similar to what many states have long had in
place for alcohol sales.
Washington state is expected to follow Colorado's lead.
But the drug's use is still illegal under federal law, and marijuana
businesses have struggled to access the U.S. financial system since
banks are reluctant to deal with them.
Earlier this month, the Obama administration issued new guidance
aimed at encouraging banks to start doing business with
state-licensed marijuana suppliers.
The move prompted speculation other states might also consider
legalizing the business.
But several governors did not see any follow-the-leader effect on
the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, as Washington
and Colorado have done.
Connecticut, for example, does allow pot use for medical reasons and
has lessened the punishment for possessing small amounts of the
drug, but has not made it legal.
"I think that's about as far as we go," the state's Democratic
governor, Dannel Malloy, said on the CNN program.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon also left the door open to some
marijuana use for medical purposes, but ruled out any action beyond
that.
"I think that folks are beginning to see, if there are things which
the medical community can help on ... our legislature and our people
might consider that," Nixon, a Democrat, said.
"To move beyond that is, at this point, I would say a bridge too
far, but that bridge has not yet been built."
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DEATH PENALTY
Many of the nation's governors are in Washington this week for a
national conference of state executives, and appeared on various
television programs on Sunday to discuss politics as well as
economic and local issues.
The actions of Washington state proved a topic of conversation not
just for its pot legalization, but also for its recent stance on the
death penalty.
Earlier this month, Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, a
Democrat, declared a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty in
his Pacific Northwest state.
Some 18 U.S. states have already legally ended execution, and
Maryland last year becoming the sixth state in six years to abolish
capital punishment.
Governors including Indiana's Pence, Missouri's Nixon and Texas
Republican Rick Perry said on CNN they also did not anticipate going
down that path.
Missouri is scheduled to execute a death row inmate convicted of a
1989 rape and murder next week, but has had problems procuring the
drugs since so few manufacturers make them.
"We're moving forward with that execution, and will continue to
enforce the ultimate penalty," Nixon said.
(Reporting by Aruna Viswanatha; editing by Sophie Hares)
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