ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER - SCHWARZENEGGER DRUGS COMMENT 'JUST A JOKE'

LATEST: Hollywood actor-turned-California Governor ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER was 'joking' when he said marijuana was "not a drug", his spokesman said on Monday (29Oct07). The Terminator star, 60, told the British edition of GQ magazine that he had not taken drugs, even though he has acknowledged using marijuana in the 70s and was shown smoking a joint in the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron. Now Schwarzenegger's press secretary, Aaron MCLear, has come forth in defence of the star - insisting he made the comments in a lighthearted context. MCLear says, "The governor was doing an interview with the host of America's Got Talent , the newest version of the gong show. "I think it's important to keep that quote in the context of the environment where it was said. "Of course the governor understands marijuana is a drug. It's like when he goes on Leno or the Daily Show - if you took something like that out of context, it might seem shocking but it was in a silly entertainment context." While marijuana for medical reasons is permitted in California, those found to be in possession of a small amount of the drug face a misdemeanour charge and a maximum $100 (GBP50) fine.