FORMER GOVERNOR TALKS MARIJUANA

Former governor of New Mexico, Republican Gary Johnson, was at the
UMKC School of Law student lounge delivering a message to a group of
students and faculty Tuesday.

"Congress will pass laws regarding anything and everything," Johnson
said. "This is our America, take it back."

Johnson occupied the governor's seat in New Mexico for two terms. He
proudly vetoed 750 bills during that time and he was only overridden
twice.

However, Johnson did not begin as a politician.

He was an entrepreneur, starting his own construction business that
turned in to a 1,000 person operation.

But he said politics was something he had always wanted to
do.

He was told he was a nice guy but had no chance of winning. He won
his first campaign and was re-elected four years later.

Johnson was at UMKC to promote his Web site of which he is honorary
chairman, http://www.ouramericainitiative.com .

He began the evening with a little background on himself and the
goals he hopes to accomplish with his Web site. He then opened the
floor for questions.

The audience, consisting mostly of men of all ages, had a variety of
issues to discuss.

But one continuously came to the floor: Legalizing marijuana and the
difficulties associated with medical marijuana.

He said just as many Democrats as Republicans are standing in the way
of legalizing marijuana and only 14 states have passed laws in
support of medical marijuana.

"I've smoked pot and drank, marijuana is better," Johnson said. "Why
not legalize [marijuana] with laws similar to those of drinking laws?
The only problem with smoking marijuana is an overindulgence in
potato chips."

He also talked about his experiences in office.

"It was A-Z, 24/7, blood-boiling work," he said.

Johnson's last term ended in January 2003 and he thought he was done.
However, staying active in politics was important to him.

He briefly spoke on the subject of health care in America. Johnson
said America's financial problems are Medicaid, Medicare and social
security.

"We are broke," Johnson said. "We have to start slashing there, we
simply can't afford it."

Johnson said he would consider running for president of the United
States.