cannabisnews.com: Gov. Supports Drug Testing! Gov. Supports Drug Testing! Posted by FoM on June 30, 1999 at 11:44:02 PT Despite Legalization Stance! Source: ABQJournal SANTA FE Gov. Gary Johnson thinks the nation should consider "decriminalizing" drug use, but he supports drug-testing for state employees. "You'll catch me in contradictions," the second-term Republican governor acknowledged at a Capitol news conference Tuesday. "I personally don't believe that it's criminal to smoke marijuana," Johnson said. But he also said that he did not hire people who tested positive for drug use when he was a private employer, before being elected governor, and that he doesn't think the state should either. "I'm very much in favor of drug testing," Johnson said, citing health issues and on-the-job safety and performance. "That's something that I want to see for all state employees," he said, referring to drug testing. Johnson said last week that he wanted the nation's drug problem, and possibly decriminalization of drug use, to be on the front burner of public debate. He has not been specific about which drugs should be included in decriminalization. But he said again Tuesday that he thinks there needs to be a national public dialogue on the whole issue of drugs. Johnson has acknowledged he was a recreational drug user as a University of New Mexico student in the early 1970s, smoking marijuana and occasionally using cocaine at the time. But the governor, now 46 and an avid triathlete, has said he stopped using drugs in his early 20s. "I think it's a bad choice to smoke marijuana," Johnson said Tuesday. "It's a bad choice to do drugs." Johnson said his Albuquerque construction management company, Big J Enterprises, now run through a blind trust, screens job applicants for drug use and does random drug testing of employees. The Johnson administration looked into drug testing state employees four years ago, shortly after Johnson took office for his first term, said Lou Gallegos, the governor's chief of staff. The administration found that federal law limits drug testing of job applicants and employees to certain "sensitive" jobs, Gallegos said. "There are issues of right of privacy and self-incrimination." But, since Johnson took office, the Corrections Department has expanded its drug testing of employees, said Deputy Secretary Manuel Romero. The Department of Public Safety, which includes the State Police, also tests employees for drugs. http://www.abqjournal.com/news/6news06-30.htm Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #14 posted by IzaaqQ on April 10, 2004 at 11:07:07 PT: Was there a reason?? http://www.cannabis.com/untoldstory/hemp_9.shtmlMakes you wonder why did they Illegalize it in the first place??? [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by IzaaqQ on April 10, 2004 at 10:36:39 PT: Marijuana Hi, i live in the ghetto and i get to see all the drugs and how they deal them. Thats not really important, but its nice to know especially when talking about drugs.(im not saying they don't know what there talking about or making there points seem bad, i'm just bringing another point to hand and saying that they might not see everything, and please dont reply saying that "no-one can physically possibly see everything, because i don't mean it literally) but my point for writing this is that if marijuana is legalized it will lose its power of attraction(When something is illegal somethimes people want it more, like when beer was illegal in the old days everyone wanted it, and when they made it legal again, it wasn't so popular anymore) and then it will lose its power of attraction and not as many people will want it anymore, then they will move to stronger things (i don't know thats how it works, but i think one of the reasons why people don't do stronger things in the first place is because the penaltys for marijuana are so bad and can they say "i just do marijuana because its good for you and everyone does it" and not feel bad about it but if its legalized, i guess it would be ok with them to move up the drug chain, and it will be "ok" morally to them). It might not seem that people would actually do more harmfull substances or be like this where you live because its a "quiet" neighborhood, but not everywhere is like where you live (and people probly do right under your nose), thats why theres diffrent country's and diffrent languages, and most importantly diffrent problems. But America is ONE nation and this is ONE problem even though we may live and look and talk diffrent. Theres a constitution that says "Everyman is Equal" or something like that (Even though the constitution is like the bible, it can be translated a million ways, this equal law is like the ten commandments, there is no way to make it right, like Thou Shalt Not Kill and please no replys saying what about 1st and 2nd degree murder because i'm making a point here, please don't try and contridict with off topic things). Anywhoo the point being is that Legallizing Marijuana may turn out for the worst and actually indirectly encourage much more harmfully substances.please E-mail me ( izaaqq yahoo.com ), about stuff like this..i like to be proven wrong when i am, or if you can make me believe theres a better alternative, because obviously i'm not God and i don't know everything and theres always better way for everything. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Shannon on May 10, 2001 at 06:39:51 PT: Comment #6, ur wrong Someone has died from weed, the idiot ate a brick of the shit and died, Weed is a very stupid drug. it does pretty much nothing to get you high, and such a small high that is,and then destroys your brain cells, but hell who needs them anyways! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by michael c on March 23, 2001 at 12:55:37 PT: Legalizing Marijuana First of all, I would like to state that I agree with the governer that marijuana should be legalized, even though I do not use the substance myself (and neve have). Despite having been raised to believe that drug use is wrong, I truly believe that it is an individuals own decision and that government funds could be put to much better use than putting marijuana users in jail. On another note, if marijuana is legalized, then the government could have some sort of control of the quality of the drug, rather than all these different types of "laced" marijuana which is on the street now. Thus I believe it is in the countrys best interest to legalize marijuana. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Mario on January 29, 2001 at 21:08:16 PT Govener Gary Johnson on Nightline After seeing you on Nightline this evening I choose to congradulate you on your "common sense" approach to recreational drug usage in ones home and to your attitude of treating drug addication as an illness and not a crime. I am truly tired of the ignorant and futile approach that people who really have no idea of what they're talking about, keep paying "lip service" to! Please consider running for President on a common sense, realistic, and humanistic platform. I know alot of people who will campaign and vote for you. Thank you once again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Jigger on January 24, 2001 at 10:55:09 PT Marajuana Honestly isn't that bad... While Marajuana DOES cause brain cell damage, Brain cells CAN be regained. If you smoke responsibly, and don't let it become a gateway drug, then it shouldn't really be an issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Emily on December 26, 2000 at 20:38:10 PT: marijuana i think marijuana should be legal because every one smokes it and why should we sneek around selling and smokeing it should be like ciggeretes i love getting high and it helps me think about things more thankyou [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Josh on November 06, 2000 at 00:31:02 PT Responsible Drug Users I really think that the people that write in should take a more educated view on drug use. Marijuana, while safer than other drugs, is still a drug and DOES cause brain cell damage. And regarding the effect of chemicals on brain cells, THC is a chemical whether it occurs naturally or is conjured up in a laboratory. The chemicals in LSD occur naturally in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye. So next time someone writes in, please try to sound like you know what you are talking about, instead of giving the educated, responsible drug users a bad name. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ers on June 03, 2000 at 05:33:51 PT think real this is truth. chemicals cause brain damage. but there is no relationship between the naturals and the chemicals.marijuana is natural and nobody can say 'if you smoke it, you will take kokain or the others later.'don't forget that nobody has ever died from smoking marijuana. isn't it the truth. goverments should consider about how they could control the drugs. if they sell the drugs, they could easily control it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Cody Stout on April 26, 2000 at 19:30:16 PT: In regards to the governers views of marajuana To be able to say that one thinks smoking marajuana is not criminal and then to swich tattics to saying there should be drugtesting for state employes is very hypocritical. To say that smoking marajuana is bad and to also again say that one thinks it is not a crime is also very hypocritical. Eithier you are in favor of marajuana or you are not. i think that this person, the govener, is trying to keep favor on all sides of stereo typical groups. In order to get a point across, the person talking must put forth true feeling into there beliefes. One can not make a differance walking on eggshels all the time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by iddo gutman on March 16, 2000 at 09:03:22 PT: article i am writing an article for a college newspaper. i go to berkely and i need help covering this issue from a conservative viewpoint. i personaly support the governer in his comments and want to know if anyone has surveys or various information on this topic. http://www.picpost.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Peter on November 08, 1999 at 11:37:03 PT Marijuan Legalization in NM I strongly believe in the legalization of DRUG use in New Mexico. There is significant information that says that short and long term use of marijuana and some othre drugs dose not cause brain dammage or kill brain cells. There are some drugs which should not be legalized such as Heroin and Crack. Some people such as Aids patiants and people who suffer from Anarexia could benefit from Marijuana because it will make them hungry and then they will eat more and keep their weight up. Others will benefit from its recreational use. The use of Marijuana is much less harmfull than the use of Alcahol for recreational purposes, It is much more dangerous to drive whil drunk than it is to drive while high. People do more bad things while drunk such a fighting and practicing unsafe sex than they do wile high. Alcahol is legal even though it has so many more harmful effects than Marajuana. This is why Marajuana should be LEGALIZED. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Peter on November 08, 1999 at 11:11:07 PT Legalization of Marijuana in NM Govener Johnson should pass a law that Decriminalizes recreatoinal use of Marijuana in NM. The state uses a lot of Taxpayer's money to jail people who smoke or even posses Marijuana, and to keep the drug out of the state. The state spends millions of dollars a year to keep it out of the hands of the users. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FALLON LINDSEY on October 06, 1999 at 08:55:28 PT: I SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR. I BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S POINT OF VIEW IS BRILLIANT. LEGALIZING DRUGS WILL ALLOW FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL DRUGS. THE INTEREST IN DRUGS WOULD EVENTUALLY GO DOWN BECAUSE IT WOULD NO LONGER BE A "REBELLIOUS ACT". THE QUALITY OF DRUGS WOULD BE BETTTER BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE CONTROL AND THE PEOPLE WHO SOLD IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A LICENCE, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE APROVED. PLUS IT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO MAKE MONEY FOR SUCH THINGS AS EDUCATION, AND IT WILL BE PUTTLING LESS INTO CRIMINALS.THANKSPINKEMPRES [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: