The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is calling out Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper for claims that legalizing recreational marijuana in 2012 was careless.

In a gubernatorial debate against Republican challenger Bob Beauprez, the Democrat governor didn't hold back on his opinion about the legalization of recreational marijuana.

"To a certain extent you could say it was reckless," he said, according to The Durango Herald. "I'm not saying it was reckless because I get quoted everywhere, but if it was up to me, I wouldn't have done it. I opposed it from the very beginning. What the hell. I'll say it was reckless."

Hickenlooper continued by saying that there was not enough precedence set for Colorado.

"We're not only the first state to do this, we're the first country," he said. "There are serious challenges when you build something from scratch."

Although Beauprez agreed Colorado should "regulate as tight as the law allows," it is Hickenlooper that is getting attacked by NORML.

NORML works to "move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient and affordable," according to its official website.

In an interview with Westword, Allen St. Pierre, the organization's executive director, said Hickenlooper is "caught up" with his campaign.

"... which is unfortunate because he's a former brewer and a seller of a drug far more dangerous than marijuana, and he also contacted NORML specifically asking for donations to his reelection because he is championing a change of law," he said. "So it seems rather hypocritical to turn to an audience and say he thinks what the people did was reckless."

St. Pierre even suggested that Hickenlooper is secretly in favor of marijuana legalization

"Behind the scenes, he's a legalizer with a capital 'L,' but when he's in public, he speaks about recklessness and Cheetos," St. Pierre said. "He believes this is an industry, he believes the industry's viable, he appreciates the industry's taxes. So he needs to be much clearer"

The head of NORML added that Hickenlooper has acted "spineless" throughout the situation.

"I can't believe a smart politician would say to people that they were reckless -- which might be a code term for dumb -- but 'now I want you to vote for me,'" St. Pierre said. "That's a very strange dynamic to set up politically."

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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