Don’t like politicians who smoked weed? These are your guys

Bill Clinton didn’t inhale.

Barack Obama most definitely did.

But what about the lesser-known candidates for California governor? Asked late Thursday about their past weed use by moderator Jorge Ramos of Univision, the hands of Democrats Antonio Villaraigosa, John Chiang and Delaine Eastin all went up, with Villaraigosa keeping his aloft for effect.

“And different than some, I actually inhaled,” he said to laughter and cheers.

Republican John Cox raised his hand slightly, which an aide later said was meant to convey his unwelcome feelings about pot, which he tried once in college but didn’t care for.

Only Republican Travis Allen and Democrat Gavin Newsom kept their hands down, despite Newsom two years ago successfully pushing to legalize marijuana in California.

A spokesman for the lieutenant governor’s campaign reiterated Friday that Newsom has never tried cannabis. Newsom has said he considers himself “anti-prohibition, not pro-pot.”

“I hate the stuff,” he once told The Bee when asked about weed use. “Can’t stand it.”

This story was originally published January 26, 2018 at 1:50 PM.