An Arizona county attorney told a retired veteran he was an enemy of the state because he smoked pot.

The veteran, Don Ream, stood up last week during a debate on medical marijuana between Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery and lawyer Marc Victor to admonish the elected official, reported KPNX-TV.

“With all due respect, sir, your name-calling – ‘potheads’ – offends me,” Ream said.

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He told Montgomery that he was a military veteran whose health had improved as a result of medical marijuana use.

“There is a distinction between medicinal applications and recreational use,” Montgomery said.

Ream admitted that he smoked pot recreationally, as well.

“Well, then you’re violating the law, and I have no respect for you,” Montgomery said. “I have no respect for someone who would try to claim that you served this country and took an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect against all enemies foreign and domestic – because you’re an enemy.”

Medical marijuana is legal in Arizona, but pro-pot advocates hope to place a ballot measure before voters next year that could legalize recreational use.

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Ream said he now considers Montgomery his enemy in the drug war, although he claims he offered the county attorney some pot as a peace offering.

Montgomery declined to comment on the exchange, but his spokesman said the county attorney did not regret his remarks to Ream.

Watch the exchange posted online by KPNX-TV: