US President Barack Obama has once again came in support of saving the environment as he pitched his voice for giving more attention to the issue of climate change than legalizing marijuana in his message to younger generation.

In a stern message to the youth about their political priorities, President Obama said that care should be more given on the degrading climatic conditions and lesser to the issue of giving marijuana constitutionally legal status.

“First of all, it shouldn’t be young people’s biggest priority… Young people: I understand this is important to you, but as you be thinking about climate change, the economy and jobs, war and peace, maybe way at the bottom you should be thinking about marijuana,” the President said during an interview to the international news channel ‘Vice News’.

The remarks came in response to a question about the issue of legalizing marijuana being viewed as a top item for the young Americans when considering the President’s legacy.

Obama has been in favor of decriminalising marijuana for a long time and has also openly supported pot smoking in high school. He, however, has never backed legalizing the controversial drug.

The Democrat President has always batted for reform in the criminal justice system and laws meant for disproportionately incarcerating African Americans in case of non-violent drug offences, such as marijuana possession.

The US Justice Department under Obama administration has adopted a hands-off approach in order to enforce a federal ban on the use of the controversial drug in states like Alaska, Colorado and Washington where the use of marijuana for recreational purposes has been legally allowed.

“We may actually be able to make some progress on the decriminalisation side. At a certain point, if enough states end up decriminalising, the Congress may then reschedule marijuana,” Obama said.

If marijuana is rescheduled, the drug would be reclassified under the less dangerous substance category.