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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US PA: Johnson Promotes Drug Legalization
ccguide Thursday 03 Aug 2000 Pubdate: Wed, 02 Aug 2000 Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM) Copyright: 2000 The Santa Fe New Mexican Contact: Address: 202 E Marcy, Santa Fe, N.M. 87501 Fax: (505) 986-3040 Feedback: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/letterstoeditor/submitform.las Website: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/ Author: Associated Press Bookmark: MAP's link to shadow convention items: http://www.mapinc.org/shadow.htm Note: Shadow Convention websites: http://www.drugpolicy.org/ http://www.shadowconventions.com/ JOHNSON PROMOTES DRUG LEGALIZATION PHILADELPHIA - New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson found a receptive audience Tuesday for his message of drug legalization after nearly a year of futilely trying to sell it to skeptical politicians and the public. "Drug prohibition is what is tearing this country apart. It's not drug use. Nobody wants to hear the facts," the Republican governor said to whoops and cheers from an audience at the so-called Shadow Convention. The Shadow Convention, under way near the Republican National Convention, is being run by Arianna Huffington, the syndicated columnist and author of How to Overthrow the Government. The gathering, also planned for the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, will focus on three issues Huffington said both parties are overlooking: the corrupting influence of money in politics, the failed war on drugs and the persistence of poverty in America. Johnson is one of the highest ranking public officials to advocate legalization of marijuana and the decriminalization of other drugs such as heroin. He said the drug war discriminates against minorities, leads to an increase in crime, and causes the transmission of disease through needle sharing and the selling of sex for drugs. "Marijuana should be legal," Johnson said. That drew the loudest response from the audience, many of whom waved signs with messages such as, "Stop the War on Drugs." Johnson and the Rev. Jesse Jackson were among several speakers discussing the drug issue. While Johnson said he supports drug legalization and decriminalization, he cautioned convention-goers not to use drugs. "We need to make a distinction between smoking marijuana in the confines of your own home," said Johnson, who has acknowledged his drug use in the past. "Is that a crime? No, that's not a crime. It's a bad decision, but it should not be a crime." Many of New Mexico's delegates at the GOP convention, while supporting the governor on other positions, said they were not pleased with his stance on drug legalization. "It should be abundantly clear by now that there's nothing to be gained by chatting about legalization of drugs," said delegate Rod Adair, a state senator from Roswell. Delegate Jack Fortner of Farmington, said he respected the governor's position but disagreed with it. "I don't know anybody who agrees with him," Fortner said. "Gov. Johnson has been a good governor. He just needs to see the light on this issue." While Johnson may not have endeared himself to his fellow Republicans, he was well received by attendees at the Shadow Convention. Dick Guard, who came from Washington, D.C., to attend the conference, said he admired the governor's courage and conviction. "I think he's speaking for so many disenfranchised people. Now, those people finally have a voice," Guard said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D
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