You are correct.
He was saying ‘decriminalize’ which is different than legalizing.
He was referring to making it an offense that did not usually result in criminal charges and a criminal record.
He did not argue for legalization.
“He did not argue for legalization.”
No he didn’t, but he argued that states have the right to do so.
Prohibitionists realized that the federal government had no Constitution authority to ban intoxicants. They got off their asses and amended the Constitution. In this respect, drug warriors are a lazy as liberals.