Sender: >To: >X-Original-Message-ID: <022c01bf0bb8$1b415e20$9acf69cf@pacbell.net> >From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: "Legalize marijuana and heroin" Gov. Johnson >Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 19:53:14 -0700 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > >Hooray! Governor Johnson uses the L-word in public. The sky does not fall. > >Let's drop him an e-mail, no matter how brief, and offer him our support. >This is a major step in bringing about peace on drugs. > >gov@gov.state.nm.us > >Enjoy, > >Peter > > > >================== > >Governor Supports Legalization of Heroin, Marijuana > >By Barry Massey >The Associated Press > >SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson, in adopting a bolder position on a >politically touchy subject, voiced support Wednesday for legalization of >some drugs such as marijuana and heroin. > > Johnson's statements were the strongest and most direct he has made in >favor of drug legalization in the past three months since he started calling >for a state and national debate on alternatives to the so-called war on >drugs. > >"I am advocating that I think legalization is a viable alternative to what >we are now doing," Johnson said at a news conference. >The Republican governor said he had no plans to propose legislation to make >drugs legal in New Mexico, but said he personally supported legalization as >a national policy. > >His comments came as Johnson prepared to potentially step again in the >national spotlight on the drug issue by appearing at a conference on the >subject next week in Washington, D.C. The conference is sponsored by the >libertarian Cato Institute, which advocates drug legalization. > >Johnson, who has acknowledged using marijuana and cocaine in the 1970s, is >the highest ranking elected official to promote drug legalization. Minnesota >Gov. Jesse Ventura suggested during his campaign that the state should >consider legalizing marijuana, but hasn't pushed for it since. > >Johnson's statements also stirred new criticism from some Republicans, who >have objected that Johnson is going against the party's national platform >that backs strong criminal penalties for drug-related crimes. > >"Maybe the next thing he'll do is be bold enough to smoke a joint on TV," >Sen. Billy McKibben, R-Hobbs, said of Johnson. >The governor said his views have evolved as he's done more research on drug >policies. > >In the past, Johnson has said legalization should be considered as part of a >national debate on changing drug laws. But the governor previously stopped >short of personally advocating legalization and instead focused mostly on >the decriminalization of drugs. That would treat drug possession much like a >traffic violation and make it punishable by a small fine. Johnson had said >he favored eliminating jail time for those who smoke marijuana, for example. > >But now, Johnson said, he favored drug legalization as the best approach for >changing national policies that rely on prohibition and criminal sanctions >as a way to deal with addiction and abuse of drugs. > >Decriminalization of some drugs, Johnson said, would not eliminate the black >market economy of trafficking and growing of drugs. Legalization would allow >governments to regulate, tax and control drugs like alcohol and tobacco. > >Johnson said he considered it possible to legalize drugs and not have an >increase in drug use. And the governor reiterated that he was not condoning >the use of drugs by children, calling them a "bad choice." > >In addition, Johnson made it clear that legalization of drugs would require >new laws such as prohibiting drug use by children, much as alcohol sales are >prohibited to anyone under age 21. > >Johnson expressed support for legalizing marijuana and heroin. He said he >didn't know enough about the potential long-term medical effects of other >illegal drugs, including cocaine, to currently advocate their legalization. >He said many of the health problems related to heroin abuse stem from use of >dirty needles rather than the drug itself. > >Despite his support for drug legalization, Johnson acknowledged that it was >politically unrealistic. > >But he suggested that legalizing marijuana was the first step. > >"Realistically speaking, if you can start with marijuana, I would suggest >that's huge. And realistically speaking, that may be 15 years off. But it >would be better to have it 15 years off than 80 years off. And talking about >it now, in my opinion, is going to get that closer," Johnson said. > >Last week, Johnson came under criticism from President Clinton's drug policy >director. A spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy >described the New Mexico governor as the "poster child for the drug >legalization movement." > >McKibben said Johnson "has come out of the closet" with his latest comments >in favor of drug legalization. > >"That clarifies it now so that all of the Johnson supporters and the dope >addicts will know for sure that the governor is advocating that -- not just >a discussion, but the actual legalization. And let him carry that burden on >out to the general public," said McKibben. > >G. Alan Robison >Executive Director >Drug Policy Forum of Texas >Houston, Texas >713-784-3196; FAX 713-784-0283 > > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: