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Don Lemon criticized for marijuana remark during Ferguson coverage

"Obviously, there's a smell of marijuana in the air," Don Lemon reported Monday night from Ferguson.

By Kate Stanton

NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Just a week after Don Lemon took flak for asking a Bill Cosby accuser why she couldn't prevent her rape, the CNN anchor has generated more criticism for his coverage of Monday night's protests in Ferguson, Mo.

Lemon was reporting from the ground in Ferguson, where a grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown prompted nationwide protests over racism, justice and police brutality.

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When asked to describe the scene in Ferguson, Lemon told CNN's Anderson Cooper: "Obviously, there's the smell of marijuana in the air as well."

Social media users, including Def Jam founder Russell Simmons, were not impressed.

Lemon's coverage of the Ferguson unrest turned even more eventful when he and co-anchor Chris Cuomo were tear-gassed live on air.

"The police officer threw tear gas into the crowd. Some of it got us. We tried to get to another location. We heard gunshots nearby," Lemon said.

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