Here's what the presidential candidates have to say about about allowing states to proceed with legalizing marijuana, and the grades they received by two interest groups. The Marijuana Policy Project supports legalizing marijuana. Smart Approaches to Marijuana opposes legalization.

DEMOCRATS

Hillary Clinton: Says she would not interfere with states legalizing marijuana. "I really believe it's important that states like Colorado lead the way, so that we can lean what works and what doesn't work," she told Denver's KUSA on Oct. 14, adding that she "would not want the federal government to interfere with the legal decision" made by state voters.

Marijuana Policy Project: B

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: B-

Martin O'Malley: Supports reclassifying marijuana at federal level to allow more research and does not seem inclined to crack down on states legalizing the drug. "I think we should keep an open mind and look at what Colorado is doing - and Washington state - and learn from it," he told CNN.

Marijuana Policy Project: C-

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: C

Bernie Sanders: Says he would vote to legalize marijuana at the state level. "I would vote yes because I am seeing in this country too many lives being destroyed for non-violent offenses," he said at the Democratic presidential debate on Oct. 13. UPDATE: He announced Wednesday that he is proposing ending federal prohibitions, which would allow states to decide whether to legalize the drug.

Marijuana Policy Project: A

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: D-

REPUBLICANS

Jeb Bush: Opposes legalizing marijuana but told C-SPAN on Feb. 27 that "states ought to have that right to do it."

Marijuana Policy Project: D

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: B-

Ben Carson: Supports medical use of marijuana but "would enforce the federal ban on states that have legalized the drug," says spokeswoman Ying Ma. At a June 27 appearance at Western Conservative Summit in Denver, Carson said there's a way to provide medicinal uses "while still enforcing federal law."

Marijuana Policy Project: D

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: A

Chris Christie: Has been blunt in making it clear he would shut down legal recreational marijuana sales. "If you're getting high in in Colorado today, enjoy it until January of 2017," Christie said in Newport, N.H. on July 28, "because I will enforce the federal laws against marijuana as president of the United States."

Marijuana Policy Project: F

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: A

Ted Cruz: In early 2014, he criticized the Obama administration for allowing Washington and Colorado to launch retail sales of recreational marijuana. A year later, told the Conservative Political Action Conference the states should be allowed to decide. "If the citizens of Colorado decide they want to go down that road, that's their prerogative," he said.

Marijuana Policy Project: C+

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: B-

Carly Fiorina: At the second GOP presidential debate, she talked of the death of a stepchild from alcohol and drug addiction and warned of the dangers of marijuana. But she said, "I agree with states' rights."

Marijuana Policy Project: C+

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: B

Lindsey Graham: He's opposed legalizing recreational marijuana but has not said whether he would interfere with states that legalized the drug. However, after Washington, D.C., voters legalized marijuana in 2014, Graham showed no interest in joining congressional attempts to block the action. "To be honest, that's pretty far down my list of priorities," he told the Washington Post.

Marijuana Policy Project: C-

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: B

Mike Huckabee: If the states "think that marijuana and the legalization of it is a great thing," he told an Iowa television station Oct. 17, "You know, I'm willing for them to experiment and find out." But he made it clear he was skeptical of recreational marijuana. "Ever know any stoners from college? How did they turn out?" he asked in an Oct. 17 Iowa TV interview.

Marijuana Policy Project: B-

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: B+

Bobby Jindal: In a March 16 interview on Hugh Hewitt's radio show, he criticized Obama on marijuana legalization. "Unlike our current president, I actually think it means something when you take an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of our nation, and you don't get to pick and choose which laws you want to enforce."

Marijuana Policy Project: C-

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: B+

John Kasich: Says he is fighting a Nov. 3 ballot measure to legalize marijuana in his home state of Ohio. However, "if states want to do it...I haven't made a final decision, but I would be tempted to say I don't think we can go and start disrupting what they've decided," he told MLive.com on Sept. 9.

Marijuana Policy Project: C-

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: B+

George Pataki: Criticizes the Obama administration for allowing retail sales contrary to federal law but told radio interviewer Hugh Hewitt on April 23 that he "would be very strongly inclined to change federal law" to allow state voters to legalize marijuana.

Marijuana Policy Project: C

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: C+

Rand Paul: The most openly pro-marijuana of the GOP presidential candidates, Paul says he hasn't taken a stand on "actual legalization" but supports legislation to ease federal curbs on the drug, encourage more research and fully legalize medical marijuana in states that have adopted it. "I don't think the federal government should override the states" on their marijuana policies, he said in the second GOP presidential debate.

Marijuana Policy Project: A-

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: D-

Marco Rubio: He does not support allowing states to go their own way on marijuana legalization. "The federal government needs to enforce federal law," he said Aug. 19 on Meet the Press.

Marijuana Policy Project: D

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: A

Rick Santorum: Says the states shouldn't be allowed to violate federal law. "[I]f we have controlled substances, they're controlled substances for a reason," he told radio host Hugh Hewitt on April 16. "The federal law is there for a reason, and the states shouldn't have the option to violate federal law."

Marijuana Policy Project: F

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: B+

Donald Trump: He's been less than clear. In 1990, he called for legalizing all drugs, saying that would undercut drug cartels. In a Feb. 27 appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, he said Colorado's legalization of marijuana is "bad and I feel strongly about that." He was then asked about the state's right to act, and Trump replied: "If they vote for it, they vote for it. But, you know, they've got a lot of problems going on in Colorado. Some big problems. But I think, medical marijuana, 100 percent" in support.

Marijuana Policy Project: C

Smart Approaches to Marijuana: C+

-- Jeff Mapes

503-221-8209

@jeffmapes