Pubdate: Mon, 22 Mar 2010
Source: University News (U of MO, Kansas City, Edu)
Copyright: 2010 University News
Contact: http://www.unews.com/main.cfm?include=submit
Website: http://www.unews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2780
Author: Nikki Bomgardner

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.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D