Questions from Debate Host, Deanna Sauceda

SAUCEDA: I would like to begin by asking whether this is a state or federal issue. If this is a federal issue, are we just wasting our time here?

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ROMERO: Most prosecutions and arrests take place in the state arena. Therefore, this is both a state and federal issue.

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JOHNSON: This is a federal issue, but there isn't a bigger "head in the sand" issue than that of the Drug War. From where I sit, I see that we allocate one-half of our resources when it comes to law enforcment, one-half of our courts and one-half of our jails are related to drug-related crime.

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JOHNSON: (cont) We can redirect those resources over onto a legalized scenario. You need to understand that there will be a whole new set of laws that will go along with legalization. And as we shift those resources over onto the new laws, I suggest that we'll have an improved quality of life in this country. I want to add that this is about people. This is absolutely about people. We're talking about 80 million Americans who have done illegal drugs.

SAUCEDA: Governor, I must interrupt. Many people are irritated that you have taken this on the road and used tax dollars in the effort.

JOHNSON: Actually, I have not taken this on the road. This is one of the misperceptions. I'm probably devoting about 5% of my time to this drug issue, but is is receiving 100% of the attention. It's receiving the attention for a reason. I think people really do understand this problem. They want it talked about. They want it debated, and we just cannot continue to arrest and incarcerate everone in this country. Again, we make 1.6 million drug arrests each year and 80% are for marijuana only.