
Mr Schwarzenegger has dealt with recent California wildfires
Why should I care if a politician takes sleeping pills every night so long as he can do his job?
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
Schwarzenegger speaks on drug use
California governor and former film star Arnold Schwarzenegger has told a magazine that marijuana is not a drug.
The ex-Hollywood actor said in a GQ interview that he had not taken drugs, even though he was shown smoking a joint in 70s documentary Pumping Iron.
"That is not a drug. It's a leaf," he told the magazine. He added: "My drug was pumping iron, trust me."
However, the governor's spokesman later told the Associated Press that the comments had been taken out of context.
Aaron McLear said the star of Terminator had been speaking in a light-hearted way.
"Of course the governor understands marijuana is a drug," he said.
In the interview with former British newspaper editor Piers Morgan for the December issue of GQ, Mr Schwarzenegger also refused to condemn politicians who declined to answer questions on taking drugs.
"What would you rather have? A politician taking stuff and not saying, but making the best decisions and improving things?
"Or a politician who names all the drugs he or she has taken but makes lousy decisions for the country?" he asked.
He said a politician's job was "to do what's best for the people and to improve the country, the economy, the environment".
"Why should I care if a politician takes sleeping pills every night so long as he can do his job?"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7066931.stm