GOVERNORS TRADE IDEAS AT SUMMIT WITH GOV GARY JOHNSON

Eight Western governors met yesterday in Honolulu to discuss issues
including innovative approaches to state drug policies and security
and economic concerns in the Asian Pacific region.

Gov. Ben Cayetano, chairman of the 21-member association and host of
the event at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, launched the three-day
session yesterday afternoon with a press conference to review issues
the governors would discuss.

The review became a debate when Cayetano turned to drug policies and
gave the podium to Gary Johnson, Republican governor of New Mexico.

The current approach of seeking out and punishing suppliers and
manufacturers isn't cost-effective and isn't working, Johnson said.
Ninety percent ofthe problems created by illegal drugs were caused by
prohibition.

"I advocate the legalization of marijuana," Johnson said.

He said he preferred less prohibitive approaches, such as those used
in The Netherlands, where crime and addiction levels have been
reduced, he said, by the legalization of some drugs for use by the
general population and of more addictive drugs, such as heroin, in
prescription form for the treatment of addicts.

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, an Idaho Republican, said he disagreed. He and
Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns, also a Republican, spoke of the dangers of
home-based methamphetamine labs, where manufacturers mix their drugs
in toilet bowls for easy disposal in case the police come.

Kempthorne said his state passed legislation allowing toilet-bowl
residue to be used in gaining convictions and prison terms for
manufacturers.

Johanns said young offenders need to be shown through tough drug laws
that the use of illegal drugs is not acceptable.

Cayetano interrupted. "As you can see," he said, "there will be
provocative discussion.

(Note: The remainder of the article dealt with security in the Pacific
region by Adm. Dennis C. Blair of the U.S. Pacific Command, and on Asian
economics by Dr. David McClain, University of Hawaii dean of the College of
Business Administration.

Tuesday at 8 AM Hawaii Time will be the beginning of the drug policy
discussion 3D 11 AM Pacific Time and 2PM on the East Coast on June
13, 2000)

The conference may be viewed live on www.hawaii.com