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| Johnson Cuts Drug Censorship |
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Posted by FoM on April 13, 2000 at 07:01:08 PT By Loie Fecteau, Journal Capitol Bureau Source: ABQjournal 
Gov. Gary Johnson on Wednesday said lawmakers were infringing on his freedom of speech when they tried to prevent him from spending taxpayer money on his national campaign to legalize certain drugs. The anti-drug provision was included in the $3.5 billion budget for general government operations approved by lawmakers during the special session, which ended April 4. Johnson signed most of the budget into law Wednesday. But he used his line-item veto to slash a provision that banned the use of budget money to "promote the legalization or decriminalization of controlled substances." In his veto message, Johnson said he intends "throughout the remainder of my term in office" to continue to push for a public debate on the nation's drug war, which he contends has failed. Johnson contends legalizing drugs such as heroin and marijuana would reduce drug use because the substances could be taxed, regulated and controlled. Johnson said the budget language banning talk about drug legalization was a "type of censorship" and "constitutes an impermissible infringement on freedom of speech as guaranteed by both the New Mexico and United States Constitutions." "I must act to protect the marketplace of ideas so that we may all freely trade our opinions regarding the solutions to the drug and crime ills that plague New Mexico's citizens," Johnson said. David Harris, Johnson's top budget adviser, noted that Johnson's comments on drugs took up a full page of his six-page executive message on the new $3.5 billion budget. "They gave him a soapbox, and he used it," Harris said. Thursday, April 13, 2000 Related Articles: CannabisNews Articles On Governor Gary Johnson: http://google.com/search?num=10&q=cannabisnews+Governor+Johnson+site:www.cannabisnews.com Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by R. Parker on April 13, 2000 at 13:41:28 PT |
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Comment #1 posted by Alexandre Oeming on April 13, 2000 at 10:37:20 PT:
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As Nelson on the Simpsons would say, "Ha-hah!" Too bad for the oppressors ... "What?!? You mean WE have to play by the rules, too?! What about the children?!" Isn't it ironic that oldman McCzar can use billions of our taxpayer dollars to promote his lies and hypocrisy, but as soon as someone tries to counter that using the EXACT SAME METHODS, they cry foul? Cry me a river. Johnson has a scrotum the size of his state and i commend him for his bravery, methods, and most of all, his common sense. Wah-hooo!!!
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