VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis came out strongly against the legalization of recreational drugs on Friday. The pontiff told members of a drug enforcement conference meeting in Rome that even limited attempts to legalize recreational drugs "are not only highly questionable from a legislative standpoint, but they fail to produce the desired effects."

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Francis has frequently railed against the "evil" of drug addiction and has met with addicts on several occasions. Just last month, Uruguay -- next door to Francis' native Argentina -- approved selling marijuana cigarettes in pharmacies, and recreational marijuana is legal in the U.S. states of Colorado and Washington.

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- The Associated Press