Governor Johnson is an athlete whose personal opposition to and abstinence from all drug use could send a very positive health message to children, but it cannot be heard because it does not fit the party line.

Of course, the parents are concerned that their children might misunderstand the governor’s message, because they have clearly misunderstood it. They certainly have not been helped in that regard by much of the media coverage. Saying that "the Governor's message [is] that marijuana and heroin should be legalized" is a distortion of what he really said.

He called for the legalization of marijuana, but only the tightly controlled sale of heroin. "I don't want to see it in grocery stores. I'm assuming that wouldn't happen. The more dangerous the perception of the drug, the more control there would be.''
See
A Proposal For A Rational Allocation Of Drug Education Budgets
Based On The Harm Done By Various Substances -- Analysis By Richard Cowan

Children need to be told that there is no correlation between the legal status of a drug and its danger. Many legal, over-the-counter drugs are very dangerous.
See
More For The "They Are Legal, So They Must Be Safe" Files
Context For Medical Marijuana And "Drug Education" Debates

The real purpose of schools seems to be to keep children from learning that they are being lied to. It is not working.)
See
Governor Johnson Says Legalize Marijuana; Czar Has A Fit. 2 Articles

December 14, 1999

From ABCNewswire on Yahoo

Johnson Speaks At Middle School - (SANTA FE) -- Governor Gary Johnson spoke to students at Santa Fe's De Vargas Middle School yesterday. But before his visit, the Governor had been asked not to discuss drugs with the children. Some parents had opposed the meeting saying their kids are too young to hear the Governor's message that marijuana and heroin should be legalized. School officials asked Johnson to limit his talks to his experience as Governor, excluding the recent drug controversy.