NEW YORK: Former vice-president Al Gore said yesterday he's glad his son is safe and getting treatment a day after the 24-year-old was arrested in California on suspicion of illegally possessing marijuana and prescription drugs.

"We love him very much," Gore told NBC's "Today" show, adding, "We are going to leave it as a private matter."

Orange County Sheriff's deputies spotted Gore junior's blue Toyota Prius going more than 160kph on a California highway, police said.

When they pulled him over, they smelled marijuana, searched the car and allegedly found more of the drug and several other addictive prescription medicines including Valium. Sheriff's department spokesman said Gore III did not have prescriptions for any of the drugs. He was released on $20,000 (BD7,356) bail paid by his sister, according to media reports.

In 2003, he was charged with marijuana possession in Maryland after police stopped him for driving without headlights on. The following year he entered a substance abuse program as part of a plea agreement.

He was also charged with reckless driving in North Carolina in 2000 for allegedly speeding over limit.