From The Albuqueque Journal -
Johnson Calls for Pot Legalization to Help Tackle Crime
Wednesday, 21 April 2010 13:08 By Michael Coleman
On Tuesday, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson - like many other marjuana legalization advocates around the country - took advantage of the date, 4-20, to illustrate a point about the war on drugs.
4-20 is pot slang for "Weed Day" or making a time to smoke pot. Johnson, a former pot smoker and drinker who now does neither, discourages drug and alcohol use.
Johnson, who may run for president in 2012 and has launched a political action committee to spread his views, issued a statement saying the war on drugs is a loss. He said legalizing marijuana could help cut the crime rate.
"It is time we cut the crime rate in this country," said Johnson. "The current prohibition laws are forcing drug disputes to be played out with guns in our streets. We need to put a stop to this criminal drug element in our country. Johnson went on to say that the current drug laws produce detrimental consequences in Mexico and other Central and South American countries. If it were not for the prohibition laws in this country, the drug cartels would not be in business."
Johnson's statement also said "prohibition of marijuana costs American taxpayers approximately $42 billion per year in law enforcement costs, as well as lost tax revenues. In addition, Mexican drug cartels continue to reap huge profits from the prohibition of marijuana - with up to 70% of their total profits based on marijuana sales in the United States."
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