JOHNSON DEFENDS MOST DRUG USERS

WASHINGTON Most illegal-drug users use them responsibly and do not
impose a financial burden on society, New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson
said Monday.

Johnson, a Republican, kicked off a tour of the nation's capital by
meeting with about a dozen leaders of a college student group that
advocates legalizing drugs. Johnson is the only governor and the
highest-ranking elected official in the nation to call for legalizing
drugs such as heroin and marijuana.

Johnson told the students at George Washington University that drugs
are a bad choice -- but that people should be allowed to make that
choice for themselves. "I hate to say it, but the majority of people
who use drugs use them responsibly," he told members of Students for a
Sensible Drug Policy. "They choose when to do it. They do them at
home. It's not a financial burden."

White House drug policy director Barry McCaffrey and other officials
have excoriated Johnson for his legalization stance.

McCaffrey told CBS on Monday that Johnson "has done more damage in the
last few months than has been done in the last several years by drug
legalization forces."

McCaffrey will be in Albuquerque on Thursday to speak about national
drug policy.

Johnson found friendlier audiences in the students and in an afternoon
session with groups that support drug legalization.

"Students are experts on drug use," said Kris Lotlikar, a leader of
the students. "We're the children that this war was supposed to
protect, but I have yet to talk to any student who came from a
drug-free high school. To me, that's a failed policy."

As the students sipped bottled water, Johnson told them of his drug
use as a young man and his decision years ago to forego drugs, alcohol
and even Coca-Cola in favor of training for triathlons.

"I was somebody who smoked marijuana in college. I didn't experiment
with marijuana, I smoked it," he said. "I made a bad choice, but even
then, it wasn't a choice that I felt should have landed me in jail."

Johnson said he supports legalized drugs with strict taxes and control
on sales and use. Under legalization, Johnson said, drugs should not
be available to anyone under 21, public drug use should be banned and
penalties should be enhanced for crimes such as driving under the influence.

Current drug policy focuses too heavily on throwing people in jail
while illegal drug cartels rake in billions of dollars, Johnson said.
Current anti-drug education efforts such as the well-known "This is
your brain on drugs" advertisements amount to lies, he said.

"You're brought up learning that drugs make you crazy," Johnson said.
"Then you do marijuana for the first time, and it's not so bad. It's
kind of cool. That's when kids find out it's been a lie."

Johnson is scheduled to appear on "Good Morning America" today before
he gives a speech at a drug reform conference, said Diane Kinderwater,
Johnson's press secretary. The conference is sponsored by the
libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, which favors drug
legalization.

The Thursday luncheon with McCaffrey is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at
the Crown Plaza Pyramid Hotel at 5151 San Francisco NE. The luncheon
is $15. Call the U.S. Attorney's Office at (505) 224-1426 to make
reservations.