cannabisnews.com: Johnson: Just Say No Johnson: Just Say No Posted by FoM on October 19, 2001 at 16:40:03 PT Editorial Source: Roswell Daily Record It was an opportunity to speak their minds and they took it. Approximately 350 students from the public high schools in Roswell Independent School District met with Gov. Gary Johnson at Roswell High School yesterday to discuss legalization of marijuana.“I was asked here to talk about drugs,” Johnson said. “Maybe this is the generation that is going to carry the football over the field.” Johnson made his point crystal clear. “Don’t do drugs,” Johnson said over and over again during his presentation and dialogue with the students. “You want to stay absolutely clear of that. Should it be criminal? No, I don’t think it should be criminal.”He also presented warnings against the ills of smoking and alcohol. Johnson underlined his opinion that society has to decriminalize and legalize marijuana because the war on drugs is lost.“We arrest 1.6 million people every year (on suspicion of drug crimes),” Johnson said. “It borders on instantly. We can’t continue to arrest 800,000 people a year for marijuana crimes. We have to stop getting tougher on drugs. Drug prohibition is tearing this country apart.”According to Johnson, 50 percent of the budget for law enforcement, courts and prisons is used to pay for processing of drug crimes. “Let’s spend more money on education and treatment for those who want it,” Johnson said. “Control it, regulate it and tax it. Prohibition is worse than use.”Johnson answered questions posed by two elected students from each of the six participating schools. The questions had been presented to Johnson before hand, along with a survey conducted in the school regarding legalization of marijuana. Over 50 percent of the participating students in the survey stated that they did not want to see marijuana legalized, and over 80 percent did not want to see all drugs legalized.“It’s not a good thing to legalize marijuana,” said Dexter High School student Jessica Reyes, 15. “I think if it is legalized it will be easier for little kids to get a hold of it. I wouldn’t want my little brother or sister getting a hold of that stuff.”One of Johnson’s arguments were that smoking marijuana should not be a criminal activity because it does not hurt anyone but the individual itself.“How does it not hurt anyone?” said Dani Rogers, 14, from Dexter High School, responding to Johnson’s statement. “I think it’s hurting people because it messes with your mind.” Even though, students who were for the legalization of marijuana were less outspoken, some students shared some of Johnson’s opinions.“I think marijuana should be legal because it will be less of an adventure to try it,” said Hagerman student Jesse Sanchez, 17. “It’s going to help our economy because we can get an income from this by taxing and selling it. It (the debate) has been going on for a long time but nothing is happening.”Johnson said legalization of marijuana was not a likely change in the near future, but he said he hoped that the decriminalization of drugs would continue. “I don’t think New Mexico has a great chance of legalizing marijuana,” Johnson said. “My hope is to decriminalize marijuana like the seat belt laws.”Senior Sen. Timothy Jennings critized Johnson’s liberal views.“I think it’s more about publicity,” Jennings said. “If the governor was serious about this more than publicity, he would have had interim committees. He would have had committees and interim committees to study this.”Jennings didn’t have positive things to say about Johnson’s liberalism on this issue, but he said that he enjoyed the event.“I think the forum points out a lot of things that need to be addressed,” Jennings said. “We ought to have more discussions with youth. I don’t think we should shy away from young people. I speak very highly of these forums.”Diane Taylor, one of the main organizers of the event, said she was pleased with the outcome.“Today we saw the goodness of the youth,” Taylor said. “They made me proud. I guess that is what I like about this programs, it let the kids think outside the box. I love seeing these kids go outside the box because that is when they think and when they expand their minds. Just give them an opportunity and they will shine every time. ” Source: Roswell Daily Record (NM)Published: October 19, 2001Copyright: 2001 Roswell Daily RecordContact: editorial roswell-record.comWebsite: http://www.roswell-record.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Governor Johnson's Home Pagehttp://www.governor.state.nm.us/Johnson, DEA Chief Talk Dope http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10895.shtmlNew Mexico Governor Favors Marijuana Legalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9415.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by lookinside on October 20, 2001 at 12:08:11 PT: Richard Lake please look for my email..i had a problem... [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on October 20, 2001 at 12:07:44 PT Richard That's what we are like. You can get us down for a while but we pop back up again. We aren't going to let anything stop us. This is what America is all about in my book. The freedom to work to change laws that are outdated and counter productive.I recommend everyone go to DrugSense chats. They are wonderful. I am usually busy or too darn tired by the time they start that's why I don't go very often. My mind is willing but I poop out too fast. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Richard Lake on October 20, 2001 at 11:56:06 PT: Thanks, Martha - and all of you who are donating! Speaking my mind gets me in trouble sometimes, Martha.I have a bumper sticker on my car that simply says SISU.Sisu is Finnish for - well - perhaps having more guts than common sense, maybe. Or more like fighting when others would give up the cause. When Russia invaded Finland during WWII the Finns fought so hard, against all odds, that the Russian soldiers thought that if you killed a Finn and cut off his head the Finn would rise again, find his head, and keep on fighting. That's SISUOh, please stop by our fast moving chats when you have a chance. Now there seems to be folks there a lot of the time. Friday evening is popular now. And of course, Saturday and Sunday evenings as usual.Bot is usually there, if nobody else - that is if Bot isn't visiting Hal.Richard DrugSense Chat Room [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on October 20, 2001 at 11:21:25 PT dddd Bless your heart. That is so good of you. I know we feel we can live on love alone or so we thought back in the good old days but it takes money to keep us going. I know that Matt has done all nighters when things went wrong with the C News program. Thanks so much. We can't lose these web sites. So many people depend on them. I know I need this site and Mapinc. Richard has been like a councelor and teacher to me. He has taught me so much and one thing I know about Richard is he will speak his mind and I like that. No beating around the bush for him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by dddd on October 20, 2001 at 11:12:00 PT C'mon everybody ...I just sent ten bucks,,,I'd have sent a thousand bucks if I had it.....I believe DrugSense/MAP,is one of the best things we have to battle our federal US taliban drugpigs,,and to make our voices heard.....C'mon,,do it now...in these new,and perilous times,we better do something...before we run out of "somethings" that we can do...........Do it for the children!...seriously,,If things dont change,,our children are going to grow up in HELL,,in a world with no sites like MAP or CNews,,,...I'd go on a weed fast for a week or two to further the cause,and help these excellent people out.....These people are the true Patriots.....I suggest diverting any contributions toward the 9/11 thing,to these people.........I think that the New Yorkers have been OD'd with contributions,,and I'll bet alot of these "charitable organizations",are run by people who have brand new Mercedes,and live in obscenely lavish epicurian splendor!...I'm gonna be sending a minimum of ten bucks a month from now on,,and when I win the lotto,,,I'll probably buy myself a Mercedes,,and drive over and deliver a million or so.........dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Richard Lake on October 20, 2001 at 09:50:34 PT: DrugSense/MAP Seeks Your Help Dear FriendsBelow is an appeal from MAP/DrugSense. Please help! Cannabisnews is by far the most popular website MAP/DrugSense hosts and supports. Please help us to keep Cannabisnews and all the websites we host (see http://www.drugsense.org/sitemap.htm#hosted ) going!Thank You!Richard~~~~~~~~~~~~Please Forward this Important Note to Your FriendsDear Fellow Reformer:As an aftermath to the tragedies of September 11th, issues involving drug policy and how prohibition helps fund terrorism have become front and center in the nation's conscious. Close to a quarter of a million people visited the MAP / Drug Sense news and opinion sections in October! We are very gratified to be fulfilling our mission to provide accurate news and facts, especially in this time of crisis.Unfortunately, our staff of a half dozen part time workers and myself need to eat and live and we are not making even a modest living from our efforts. I earn less than ten dollars an hour and the others are around the minimum wage level. This is not sustainable over the long run.Many of you out there could contribute with little if any inconvenience. Some might only afford ten dollars. Most could come up with fifty or a hundred. And there are some of you who could become thousand dollar donors and help underwrite and expand our efforts. (You wouldn't believe how rare a thousand dollar donor is around here!)With one exception, foundations won't touch us with a ten foot pole because we are deemed controversial. So we are totally dependent upon web visitors support to increase funding. We continuous ask ourselves, why are we unable to generate more dollars from such a large and dedicated group?Together we have built DrugSense and MAP into one of the world's largest drug policy reform web site.See http://www.drugsense.org/webpop/We have generated 7,300 published letters to editors over the course of the past few years.See http://www.mapinc.org/lte/We are proud of our other current services, among them: The Drug News archive of more than 68,000 news clippings, support for scores of other reform organizations and a weekly newsletter informing thousands of readers of current developments in drug policy.See: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/We also have plans to expand our services in the near future, provided we can keep our heads above water.We cannot sell subscriptions or advertising, so we must rely upon you, our beneficiaries, to send us what you feel this service is worth to you and what will fit into your budget.Contributing is easy. You can charge your contribution at:http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htmIf you prefer to donate via check, please mail your checks payable to DrugSense or MAP Inc. PO Box 651, Porterville, CA 93258.Please assist us now and on a regular basis. We have the vehicle to bring about reform. Your contribution will help provide the fuel.Thank you for joining us in the battle to bring about sound drug policies and justice.Mark Greer, Executive Director, DrugSense, MGreer mapinc.org DrugSense/MAP Seeks Your Help [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on October 20, 2001 at 06:06:10 PT Jessica, your little brother is my DEALER! <jk!> >>“It’s not a good thing to legalize marijuana,” said Dexter High School student Jessica Reyes, 15. “I think if it is legalized it will be easier for little kids to get a hold of it. I wouldn’t want my little brother or sister getting a hold of that stuff.” The current policy of prohibition not only makes it easier for underage kids to get ahold of, but it encourages them to buy in quantity and sell to their friends to finance their habit. What's the chances your little brother or sister will do this with alcohol? Not very likely. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Lehder on October 20, 2001 at 01:34:40 PT Get Government out of Education “Don’t do drugs,” Johnson said over and over....Over and over, eh? Why don't we leave kids out of it? Do we consult them on nuclear disarmament or how to fight the Taliban? What do they have to say about Medicare? Assisted suicide? Let's tell them how to think about these issues too, over and over, and if we find ourselves locked in a thirty years war over them then let's consult them on how to resolve it.When I take over the world, you're going to be able to turn on your TV set and see some of the thousands of interesting lectures given in our college classrooms each day. The library will be open at 8 AM and stay open til midnight. People will get educated. They'll be smart enough to make their own decisions, when they're ready, and not get sucked in by propaganda. Parents will tell them what's right and what's wrong at home and kids won't have their minds abused in school, nor will they be shot at, strip searched or bullied. They'll be encouraged to follow their real interests. You'll be able to send your kids to school - the private school of your choice, the only kind - knowing that they're going to learn practical and useful skills like reading, writing and 'rithmetic and they'll be thinking about essays in McGuffy's Eclectic Reader by Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson on the evils of big government and not be brow beaten with the repetition of ready-made and mindless values, repeated over and over. Governors will keep their noses to the grindstone and do what they're good at: cost-benefits analysis and taking apart the final vistages of wasteful programs like drug wars. And the drugs themselves will be a nonissue. Nobody will be interested. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Extreme on October 19, 2001 at 23:20:32 PT Just say KNOW! Drugs are BAD. This is a horrible statement that is taken on by the all american Anti-drug Beer bellied NyQuil lovers, that teach there children to stick to Tylenol and other LEGAL, but harmful drugs to ease the pain. It is a documented fact, that most mainstream Painkillers and Alcohol damage the liver. These wonderful "FDA APPROVED" socially exceptable ways to manipulate your senses, and in many ways relax them, cause permanent damage to the body. There is no part of the brain that openly accepts alcohol. It kills brain cells, and has no Saturation point. It causes damage to your body internally and is often the cause of Fights, Accidents, and Deaths, yet this is acceptable. What's unacceptable? Let me give you a hint. You CANT overdose and die from it, it makes you happy while it heals your body, it keeps seizures and depression at bay, and is used to make thousands of things from clothes to soap. Yes! The answer is Marijuana, and it is truly a gift from God. This wonderful thing must have a downfall thowe, and as many people have predicted it does, and that downfall is known as the horrible Cottonmouth. No perminent damage is ever seen, and it has a saturation point so your body CANT OD. Our society has been living in a state of ignorance for far too many years. America preaches its freedom for people to be able to live a life with Liberty and the "Pursuit of Happiness." Yet, we don't see this. “We arrest 1.6 million people every year (on suspicion of drug crimes).” This is unacceptable. We do not need another Civil War. We are always at war with other countries, but why must we also always be at war with ourselves. In 2000 this Drug war cost the american people 20 billion dollars. Around 50% of the police force is looking for drug users(not drug abusers). Millions of dreams have been ended. Many goodwilled and peaceful people have been killed due to this horrible idea which is "Prohibition." May god have mercy on our souls---We were mislead. The time for Truth and change is now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on October 19, 2001 at 21:12:59 PT And subcommitees too “I think it’s more about publicity,” Jennings said. “If the governor was serious about this more than publicity, he would have had interim committees. He would have had committees and interim committees to study this.”Don't forget commissions, he should have had a commission. And they should have issued a report.Once you have a committee to set up a commission to issue a report, you're in business!Except in the marijuana prohibition business, this means you're out of business. After the committee sets up a commission to issue a report, the report is briefly discussed and then quickly filed in the Thank God That's Over section of the public policy trash bin.So it's to Governor Johnson's credit that he has not sentenced marijuana to death by committee in New Mexico. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by st1r_dude on October 19, 2001 at 19:42:16 PT educate The only way to decrim is to educate usage intelligently...if we make drug use intellectual, there's no argument...look at how europe does it...we have to elude to european intellectualism.ksp [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by greenfox on October 19, 2001 at 16:46:19 PT GO JOHNSON! I wanna be like Johnson, buddy I wanna help out everyone I see... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment