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Hoffman’s OD a political football in pot law debate

Congressional Democrats dragged Philip Seymour Hoffman’s name into a hearing on the nation’s marijuana laws Tuesday — even as Mimi O’Donnell, the grieving mom of his three kids, ventured out to plan his funeral.

“It is ludicrous, absurd, crazy to have marijuana on the same level as heroin. Ask the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, if you could,” said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) in a stern lecture to Michael Botticelli, President Obama’s deputy drug czar.

“Nobody dies from marijuana. People die from heroin. And every second we spend in this country trying to enforce marijuana laws is a second that we’re not enforcing heroin laws.”

Even as the House Oversight Subcommittee’s hearing was playing out, a visibly shaken O’Donnell arrived at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home on the Upper East Side, supported by Hoffman’s assistant, Isabella Wing-Davey.

Botticelli defended the administration’s anti-legalization stance at the hearing, but Cohen was having none of it. With the tragic actor’s body barely cold, he went on:

“Heroin and meth are the two drugs that are ravaging our country. And every death, including Mr. Hoffman’s, is partly the responsibility of the federal government’s drug priorities.”

Under the federal list of “Schedule 1” drugs, marijuana is classified the same as heroin and other hard drugs.

Another Democrat, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, tried to get Botticelli to admit that speed was more addictive than pot.

“I think that conversation minimizes the harm,” Botticelli responded, refusing a direct answer.

“Your equivocation right there, being unable to answer something, clearly and definitively . . . is why young people don’t believe the propaganda,” Blumenauer fumed.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) tried to get Botticelli to provide figures on how many people have died from marijuana overdoses, but received only baroque answers.

“I think the way you have to look at this is the totality of harm that’s associated with a substance. And to basically state that because marijuana doesn’t have the lethality and overdose potential that heroin or alcohol does diminishes, I think, the significant health consequences that are associated with it,” Botticelli said.

“I’m asking the questions here, Mr. Botticelli,” Connolly loudly complained after one dodge. “I’m asking you directly to answer them. If you want to add your opinion, fine.”

“The administration’s position has not changed. You have to look at this as a public-health-related issue,” Botticelli responded.

Republicans also went after the administration — but for not being tougher on marijuana users, citing President Obama’s recent statement that pot is no more dangerous than alcohol. “We’ve gone from ‘Just say no,’ and we had ‘I didn’t inhale.’ Now it’s ‘Just say maybe’ or ‘Just go ahead,’ ” cracked Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.).