High-ranking RI lawmaker faces drug charge

A leading Rhode Island lawmaker who criticized the Legislature by invoking images of pot-smoking immigrants is facing drug charges in Connecticut.

Police in East Haven, Conn., say East Greenwich Republican Robert Watson, the House Minority Leader, was stopped at a police checkpoint Friday and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence.

According to a police report, authorities found a bag of suspected

marijuana and a pipe in Watson’s pocket. Watson was released on $500 bond.

Watson issued a statement Monday acknowledging that police discovered "trace evidence" of marijuana but said he wasn’t driving under the influence.

Watson drew fire in February when he said lawmakers had their priorities right "if you are a Guatemalan gay man who likes to gamble and smokes marijuana.”"