Colorado state Rep. Jared Wright (R) warned on Tuesday that it was just a “matter of time” before marijuana legalization started causing violence and increased crime.

In an interview with Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, Wright said that he was sponsoring a bill to make it illegal for food stamps recipients to use their electronic benefits cards (EBT) to access funds at ATM machines in marijuana dispensaries.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wright explained that homeless people he spoke to around the state Capitol agreed that his bill was reasonable.

“As a lower-middle class American myself, I think it’s unfair to be encouraging a lot of these folks who are coming off of addiction, who we should be encouraging to come out of their addictions,” the Colorado Republican noted.

“Overall, Representative, how is it going in Colorado with pot being legal?” Kilmeade wondered.

“We’ve had reports from our law enforcement officials. Recently, the Denver police chief commented that the roll-out has gone smoothly,” Wright admitted. “As a couple of days ago, they hadn’t attributed any acts of violence or increased crimes to the facts that we have these shops on our street corners.”

“I think it’s a matter of time though,” he added. “I think it’s a matter of time before we start seeing some problems.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Wright introduced his legislation banning the use of EBT cards in marijuana dispensaries after the satirical website, National Report, published a fake report claiming that food stamps were being used to purchase weed.

A similar bill was also introduced by Sen. Vicki Marble (R).

Watch this video from Fox News’ Fox & Friends, broadcast Jan. 21, 2013.