FRIEDMAN CALLS FOR LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

AUSTIN (AP) -- Candidate says he would release those already in
prison to open up space.

Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman said Wednesday
that he favored legalizing marijuana to keep nonviolent users out of
prison and said he would push to release those already in prison for
the offense to free prison space for more violent criminals.

"I think that's long overdue," Friedman said. "I think everybody
knows what (U.S. Sen.) John McCain said is right: We've pretty well
lost the war on drugs doing it the way we're doing it. Drugs are more
available and cheaper than ever before. What we're doing is not
working."

Friedman also said he would "clean house" in numerous state boards
and commissions whose members are appointed by the governor, would
get rid of the TAKS test for public school students even if that
meant the state would lose federal school money and would give more
careful review to death row inmates facing execution.