cannabisnews.com: GOP Governor Seeks Legalization GOP Governor Seeks Legalization Posted by FoM on October 10, 1999 at 16:27:28 PT By Frank Davies Source: Austin American Statesman A heretic in the war on drugs has emerged to shake up the national debate on this volatile subject, and he's a conservative Republican governor with an unlikely resume. Gary Johnson of New Mexico fits a traditional GOP profile. Elected last year to his second term, he was worked to cut taxes, shrink the size of government, build new prisons with tough restrictions on inmates, resist gun controls and push school vouchers. A 46-year-old fitness fanatic who turned a part-time job into one of his state's largest construction companies, Johnson is a "bottom-line guy." But faster than you can say Jesse Ventura, Johnson has gained national attention -- praise and derision -- as a maverick governor who wants to legalize drugs, from marijuana to heroin. His position in a nutshell: "Control it. Regulate it. Tax it. Educate people truthfully about its dangers. If we legalize it, we just might have a better society." Johnson calls the drug war, with a federal budget of about $18 billion each year, "an absolute failure" that peddles "lies" in its ad campaign to kids: "They're told if they try marijuana, their brains will be damaged -- a kid tries it and learns that's not true. He wonders what to believe." The governor admits extensive pot use as a young man, but says he doesn't use alcohol, tobacco or drugs now. He insists his is not a pro-drug message: "Don't do drugs. Drugs are a handicap. It's a bad choice. Me and my buddies smoked -- did we belong in jail? Man, I don't think so." He thinks the legalization effort will take many years and is fraught with its own problems. He would support continued random drug testing of employees, ban narcotics use or sale to kids, "and if we put all that money into treatment and education, we would be a lot better off." Johnson said these things in a whirlwind tour of Washington last week, speaking to student groups and the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, with stops on radio talk shows, TV morning shows and the Internet. Other conservatives, including William Buckley and Milton Friedman, have called for legalizing or at least decriminalizing some drug offenses. So has Kurt Schmoke, the outgoing mayor of Baltimore. But a sitting governor -- and one whose state borders Mexico, a source of drugs -- is a different matter. Johnson's stand has been blasted by state GOP leaders, from Sen. Pete Domenici to Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley, along with many in law enforcement. The nation's drug czar, Barry McCaffrey, flew to New Mexico on Thursday to excoriate Johnson for undermining the drug war and "sending a terrible message to kids." Kids were calling the governor "Puff Daddy Johnson," McCaffrey said with scorn. Johnson says he is ready for the political consequences. "McCaffrey has made me his poster child in this war. Look, I know this is a zero for anyone holding office -- I'm in the ground, and the dirt is being thrown on top of me." Reaction to Johnson, who can't run again for governor, is mixed among New Mexicans. A recent poll by Mason-Dixon Polling found that state residents don't want to decriminalize drugs, though most don't think possessors of small amounts of marijuana should go to jail. "But the big story is Johnson's stand against the drug war hasn't hurt him much," said researcher Brad Coker. "People know he's independent, speaks his mind, and they don't hold it against him. "Johnson may be passing Ventura as the nation's renegade politician of choice," Coker said. Johnson's stand may make it safer for others to speak out, said Joseph McNamara, a former police chief of San Jose, Calif., who fears that the "holy war against drugs" has become too militaristic and is having an "insidious effect on law enforcement." McNamara noted that several states have supported referenda for the medical use of marijuana: "Voters may be ahead of the politicians -- people aren't buying a lot of the propaganda any more." Johnson's critics insist calls for legalization ignore dire consequences. Daniel Lungren, former California attorney general, told the Cato conference that treating lethal drugs as just another heath or social problem "would inevitably lead to more drug use, and that's a cost to society we can't afford." The governor of New Mexico acknowledges he doesn't have all the answers, but for now he's looking for a vigorous debate -- even if that means he gets called "Puff Daddy" by the drug czar. By Frank DaviesKnight Ridder NewspapersSunday, October 10, 1999Related Articles: Governor Johnson Comes to Washington - 10/08/99 http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3204.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by observer on October 11, 1999 at 17:39:30 PT Did McCaffery make up the 'Puff Daddy' name? > Kids were calling the governor "Puff Daddy Johnson," > McCaffrey said with scorn. I doubt that very seriously ... I think McCaffery and/or his propaganda-writers just made this name up (search http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/ )... more name calling propaganda technique. Propaganda from your government to you. Propaganda so that you will think in the 'correct' ways. And just who pays for all this propaganda against its very citizens? Propaganda Techniques: Name Calling [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 11, 1999 at 08:43:59 PT Words Thanks Observer!Words, grouping issues together, like this, that shouldn't even be in the same sentence in my opinion. Late term abortion is a volatile issue with anyone you ask and to put marijuana next to it is wrong.Gov. Angus King said Wednesday he will vote against citizen-initiated referendum questions seeking a late-term abortion ban and allowing marijuana use for medical purposes. King Opposes Medical Marijuana, Late-Term Abortionhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3171.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by observer on October 11, 1999 at 08:32:59 PT how the question is asked ... Note that asking the question one way:> A recent poll by Mason-Dixon Polling found that state > residents don't want to decriminalize drugs, gave different results than when "JAIL" was mentioned!> though most don't think possessors of small amounts > of marijuana should go to jail. It seems that when people are explicitly asked if ADULTS should be JAILED for these things, then they tend to say "No" to jailing adults. Drug warriors know this. Watch how drug war propagandists like to conflate (confuse, intentionally) "guns and drugs", or "violence and drugs", or often "drug users and dealers". This confusion is no accident.also see:Propaganda & The War On Drugs (July-August 1999)"... the ways in which propaganda is used by our governments to manipulate public opinion and fashion acceptance. It is about creating terror, and fear to produce coercion and a compliant, apathetic population. " http://www.mapinc.org/clipping/v99/n711/a10.html Part I http://www.mapinc.org/clipping/v99.n712.a01.html Part II ''find it increasingly difficult to tolerate the simple-minded propaganda...'' [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by BigAb on October 11, 1999 at 07:21:18 PT: Dan Lungren ?? Man, I thought we'd heard the last of that Nazi for a while ! Just like Freddie Kruger he keeps on commin' back ;)I truely hope some of the politicos we have now will take a lead from Gov. Johnson, that is if they have his guts and honesty, something sadly lacking in the U.S. today. The Govenor and I are the same age so I KNOW HE HAS SUPPORT from us over 40's !!!!! Sooner or later it's all gonna come tumbling down just like the house of cards that was the USSR you can't run a government with one foot on the populations neck and expect to keep it there for long !!I think one of the "Kickers" to the whole thing is that as my generation gets older and looks to Social Security ( that bloody well took money from my check wheather I liked it or not !!!) as a NEEDED stipund for our livelyhood and we hear all this "piss and moan" from the Gov. "it just is'mt there for you" when they've pissed it off AND we find out that a SINGLE years budget for the DEA would fund it for ALL of us at that age for a FULL CENTURY things will change , one way or the other it's gonna have to change !!!!HOLD YOUR GROUND, FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT !!!It concerns every man,woman and child not only here but everywhere this prohibition is policy........."It not what goes into a man makes him evil. But that which come from his heart" Jesus [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: