GOP Senator Tells UK Prime Minister To ‘Put Down The Bong’ And Stop Using ‘Ketamine Stash’ As He Criticizes British Territory Agreement

A GOP U.S. senator is telling the prime minister of the United Kingdom to “put down the bong” and “stop dipping into your ketamine stash” over that nation’s agreement to turn over authority of a British territory where a joint military base is stationed.

In a series of Senate floor speeches in recent days, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) sharply criticized the Labour Party UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for reaching a deal with the Mauritian government to hand over control of the Chagos Islands, calling such a move a national security threat given the strategic positioning of the joint military base.

Kennedy has repeatedly suggested that the decision was made under the influence of cannabis and ketamine—despite the UK party leader’s opposition to marijuana and drug policy policy reform.

“We need to stop this deal,” he said late last month. “President Trump and Secretary Rubio need to pick up the phone and call Prime Minister Starmer in the United Kingdom and say to the Prime Minister: Mr. Prime Minister, with all due respect, stop dipping into your ketamine stash. Put down the bong. We need this military base to combat China. Don’t do it.”

He made similar comments last week, saying “I want to see the Prime Minister do well, but he needs to put down the bong. He needs to put down the bong.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told to “put down the bong” on the floor of the United States Senate. pic.twitter.com/ZSX4s4DcaO

— Tom Harwood (@tomhfh) February 8, 2025

Moments later, however, he said, “I don’t mean any disrespect,” and he said he “shouldn’t have said the ‘bong’ part. I take it back.”

The use of stigmatizing language around cannabis use isn’t especially surprising coming from Kennedy, who has opposed even modest marijuana reform proposals—including the Biden administration’s rescheduling push.

But again, it seems like a somewhat misdirected attempt at an insult given that the prime minister doesn’t even back drug policy reform, saying in 2023 that he had “no intention” of advancing laws to legalize or decriminalize marijuana.

“Other countries will take different approaches they traditionally have, but our approach is settled and not really a subject of great debate even within the Labour Party,” he said.

In any case, attacks suggesting that marijuana use negatively impacts decision-making are nothing new in politics.

For example, ahead of the 2022 election, former South Carolina Rep. Katie Arrington (R), took a hit at U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) over her marijuana advocacy, accusing the congresswoman of being “high” in a campaign ad.

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Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.