Even as Pope Francis earns ongoing attention for his stridently progressive views on issues including capitalism, homosexuality and even atheism, he steadfastly opposes legalizing recreational drugs.

Speaking June 20 at the International Drug Enforcement Conference in Rome, the Pope criticized the use of illicit drugs, including marijuana. Colorado and Washington state have legalized recreational use of the drug.

"The scourge of drugs continues to rage in impressive shapes and sizes, powered by an ugly market that crosses national and continental boundaries," the pope said. "In this way, there is a growing danger for young people and teenagers. In the face of this phenomenon, I feel the need to express my sorrow and my concern."

Simply put, drugs are evil -- and, when facing evil, "there can be no failure or compromise ... the legalization of so-called 'soft drugs,' even partial, aside from being very least questionable in terms of legislation," does not help solve the problem of substance abuse, he said.

"I want to reiterate what I said on another occasion: no to any kind of drug. Simply. No to any kind of drug," the pope emphasized.

In December, Uruguay became the first country to legalize marijuana use, approving regulations for the drug's cultivation, production, storage, sale and distribution.

The country has also started to track user consumption.

Jamaica announced this month that it too plans to legalize medical marijuana and permit possession of up to 2 ounces for recreational use.

Back in the United States, Alaska is expected to vote on recreational pot use in November, and Oregon may hold a similar vote soon, according to a Newsweek report.

New York is ready to become the 23rd state to legalize medicinal marijuana, while 16 other states have decriminalized use of the drug, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

A Gallup poll released in October found 58 percent of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized

Even though pot remains illegal under federal statute, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to restrict the Drug Enforcement Administration from using funds to go after medical marijuana outlets legalized at the state level.

Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday courtesy of "an amendment to the Justice Department budget bill," the Huffington Post reported Thursday.

Battling the negative effects of drug use by permitting drug use will not work, the pope said. "But to say no, you have to say yes to life, yes to love, yes to others, yes to education, yes to sports, yes to work, yes to more job opportunities ... this is the way of drug prevention."

The Catholic Church, "faithful to the command of Jesus to go wherever there is a human being suffering, thirsty, hungry, in prison, has not abandoned those who have fallen into a spiral of drugs, but with his creative love has gone to meet them," said the pontiff. "The example of the many young people who, eager to escape the dependency on drugs, commit themselves to rebuild their lives is an incentive to look ahead with confidence."

Said Pope Francis, "there is no place for drugs, there is no place for alcohol abuse and other addictions."