GOVERNOR, TEENS DISCUSS DRUG ISSUES

Gov. Gary Johnson received several bursts of applause from local teens,
possibly evidence that most agreed with his views during a drug policy
discussion at Warehouse 21 Tuesday afternoon.

"Ninety percent of the drug problem is prohibition related and not use
related," Johnson said, as he opened the discussion, laying out his crusade
to decriminalize illegal drugs. He later said the number of people arrested
across the nation for drug violations every year is equal to the population
of New Mexico.

When a teen-ager asked Johnson whether he considered marijuana a "gateway
drug," the governor said the only gateway marijuana provides is to the drug
dealer. A gateway drug is one that leads to abuse of harder drugs.

"If you legalize marijuana, you will do away with the gateway. The only
gateway aspect of it is the guy that sells you marijuana who sells you a
bunch of other things as well."

Another teen asked Johnson about the recent ad campaign on national
television that touts spending money on illegal drugs as a way of
supporting terrorism.

Johnson turned the argument around by mentioning theories that link
Sept.-11 events to Osama bin Laden, whom Johnson said is a suspected drug czar.

"Our war on drugs is contributing to terrorism," Johnson said.

Johnson said he was shocked the state Legislature even talked about his
drug-reform proposals. He said he was pleased that half his drug-reform
proposals were passed. "I thought that was significant," he said.

"When I first started talking about drug reform, I thought I was going to
be tarred and feathered," Johnson said of his early efforts to bring about
illegal-drug reform.

Johnson made it clear he wanted substance abuse to be treated as a health
issue and not a criminal one, explaining he supports rehabilitation not
incarceration.

He said employers should retain the right to test employees for marijuana use.

"You can choose whether or not you want to be an astronaut or a
dishwasher," he said, "but you shouldn't be punished for your decision to
smoke marijuana."

Johnson said he tried marijuana but has since stopped using it or consuming
sugar and alcohol.

"We all have enough handicaps," Johnson said. "When I quit drinking, I
realized that it was the best thing that I had ever done. ... By
eliminating these things, I'm on a natural buzz."

He said he thinks he's the healthiest 49-year-old around.

"I'm in the 150 pound range with 6 percent body fat. What do you think
about that?" he asked the crowd.

A teen mentioned a part of the student-loan policy from the federal
government that denied student loans to anyone with any kind of
drug-related conviction. Meanwhile, those convicted of other crimes such as
rape and murder are not denied student loans.

Johnson said he had mentioned the policy to Asa Hutchinson, head of the
Drug Enforcement Agency, when the two discussed drug decriminalization in a
recent debate in Albuquerque. He said Hutchinson was not aware of the
policy and was looking into making a change.

For video clips of the discussion, read Friday's Web extra edition at
www.santafenewmexican.com.

Friday's teen section Generation Next, will also run an article about the
Governor's visit.