Governor Gary Johnson, Honorary Chairman of OUR America, Calls for Legalization of Marijuana to Reduce Crime in America

Former Republican Governor of New Mexico is a Long-Time Advocate for Ending the War on Drugs;
Abolishing Drug Cartels’ Control of Our Streets and Borders

SANTA FE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico and honorary chairman of the OUR America Initiative, today announced his continued support for marijuana legalization. Governor Johnson points out that we are not winning the war on drugs. Billions of dollars are being wasted and the result is higher crime rates. Marijuana legalization is an effective means to reduce the exorbitant costs currently spent fighting the War on Drugs, as well as providing the ability to generate a new revenue stream for state budgets through taxation of marijuana.

“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.”

“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.”

Studies show that 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.

Governor Johnson is a longtime, credible advocate of legalization, officially stating his position on the issue during his second term in office as governor of New Mexico. As such, he is the highest-ranking elected official to ever offer public support on the issue. “This country would be a better place to live in if all the resources we currently put toward criminalizing marijuana were instead spent by law enforcement on protection from real crime, as opposed to victimless crime,” stated Johnson. “My opinion in regard to marijuana is that we should tax it, regulate it and control it. I want to make it clear that I don’t advocate recreational drug use of any kind. Obviously, it will never be legal to smoke pot, become impaired and get behind the wheel of car or do harm to others. It will never become legal for kids to smoke pot.”

As honorary chairman of the OUR America Initiative, Governor Johnson has traveled to 14 states in the last three months talking about the important issues of the day. In addition to discussing his support of legalization, he has encouraged public dialogue on lowering taxes, reductions in deficit spending and a return to common sense governing. “One of the things I’m most excited about is seeing the issue of marijuana legalization moving more toward the forefront of our political dialogue. The public is become more aware of the wasteful expenditures and drain on our law enforcement resources that marijuana prohibition has caused,” Johnson stated.

Governor Johnson is available for interviews or to contribute content as a subject matter expert on legalization. Please contact Sue Winchester at 801-303-7924 or [e-mail] for further information.

The OUR America Initiative is a national issue-based advocacy committee. Key issues include: Solving the Economic Crisis and Creating Jobs; Lowering the Federal Deficit; Civil Liberties; Fighting the War on Drugs; Immigration Policy; and Taxes. Additional information can be found at www.ouramericainitiative.com.

About Honorary Chairman Gary Johnson: Gary Johnson, a Republican and two-term governor of New Mexico from 1994-2002, has been a consistent and outspoken advocate for efficient government and lowering taxes.