Stephen Malkmus and his band Pavement played the Ogden Theatre in Denver, Colo., in September 2010. (Photos by Joe McCabe, heyreverb.com)

Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus: “All drugs should be legalized”

How does Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus feel about the legalization of marijuana?

Our colleagues at music site Reverb asked him recently — since his current band the Jicks will kick off the U.S. leg of their “Wig Out at Jagbags” tour at Colorado’s Gothic Theatre on Feb. 12.

Here’s what Malkmus had to say:

With you coming to Denver, what are your thoughts on pot being legalized?

Well, I don’t smoke marijuana anymore but I think it should be legalized. I don’t have any problems with it. It’s less toxic than alcohol, and alcohol is legal. And if perchance some government money could go to schools instead of drug dealers, that’s fine with me. I don’t have problems with people who grow weed or sell weed, but I would imagine they’re not really into charity. Conceptually all drugs should be legalized, but I don’t know if it’s a reality.

What changed your mind on weed?

I just got bored with it I guess. It’s something you get in your system. When I smoked it more when I was younger, I was kind of addicted to it. I don’t need it. But I have friends who smoke.