Elon Musk highlights the paradox of the criminalization of cannabis in the United States

Paypal, Tesla, and SpaceX founder Elon Musk recently tweeted about the criminalization of cannabis, more than a year and a half after its controversial appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

"It will probably get me in trouble, but I think I have to say it,"

Musk wrote on Twitter last Saturday,

before highlighting the paradox that cannabis dispensaries have been declared essential businesses in a number of states during containment, but at the same time many people are still in prison for cannabis-related offenses.

His tweet was shared by Joe Rogan on Instagram with the caption "Elon is right."

In September 2018, Elon Musk joined Joe Rogan on his podcast during which the two shared a blunt. After discussing AI and Musk's businesses, Rogan lit a joint, arousing Musk's interest.

At this point, Rogan offered the Tesla CEO the joint, to which Musk replied, "I mean, it's legal, right? Before pulling a slap. Musk then sipped whiskey before telling Rogan that "alcohol is also a drug".

The clip went viral before wreaking havoc on Musk's two main companies: electric vehicle maker Tesla and space company SpaceX. Tesla's shares fell 9% following the incident, and two executives quickly left the company.

Although cannabis is legal in California, the substance remains illegal in the eyes of the federal government, which prompted NASA to order a mandatory review of the culture of the workplace at SpaceX because the company is a federal entrepreneur.

Before wrestling with a blunt on Rogan's podcast, Musk had sparked controversy with another cannabis-related tweet in August 2018. The businessman tweeted that he was planning to buy Tesla stocks at $ 420 a share.

According to a file from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Musk's tweet misled investors and resulted in Musk's removal from Tesla's board of directors.