cannabisnews.com: Johnson: Public Drug Discussion Fruitless Johnson: Public Drug Discussion Fruitless Posted by FoM on December 18, 1999 at 14:49:11 PT The Associated Press Source: ABQjournal Gov. Gary Johnson says his crusade to legalize drugs such as heroin and marijuana is going nowhere because opponents cannot agree on basic facts. "It's fruitless," Johnson said. "If the dialogue is going to advance, if the debate is going to advance, we've got to bottom out on what the facts are. This is truly fruitless." "I don't want to have any more debates if we can't arrive or acknowledge what the facts are on these issues," he said. Johnson, a Republican, has spent much of his time since June pressing for drug legalization and trying to lead a national debate on the issue. He said the war on drugs is a failure. Republican lawmakers disagreed with Johnson's drug reform campaign and have complained that it was detracting from other issues confronting the state. Johnson agreed Nov. 19 to tone down his advocacy for drug legalization at least through the 2000 legislative session, which convenes Jan. 18. Johnson said he realized that any more public discussion on legalizing drugs was fruitless after a televised debate last week with District Attorney Jeff Romero of Albuquerque. Johnson contended crime and drug-use rates in the Netherlands -- where marijuana has been decriminalized -- were lower than in the United States. Romero said the rates were higher. "I came to a revelation the other day in this debate with Romero, that what everybody was presented with were facts that were 180 degrees apart, and at this point, right now, I think this goes nowhere," Johnson said. He said he no longer would wage a lone fight against the government and its statistics. "It can't be just me on these facts, because the powerful powers that be are (running) the war on drugs," Johnson said. "We're talking about the establishment. We're talking about the status quo," he said. Johnson said he continues to welcome vigorous debate on how to solve the drug problem, but "can't continually respond to criticism about me because those critics are 180 degrees (in opposition) of my facts." "But any debate would have to agree ahead of time on what the facts are," he said. Johnson said that if he is invited to speak to a citizens group about drug legalization, he would decline or at least preface the discourse with a warning. "I spoke the other day at the Rotary Club in Albuquerque (about drug legalization) and I told them that what you need to understand is that everything I'm about to tell you is going to be disputed factually by the status quo," Johnson said. Published: December 18, 1999Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 Albuquerque JournalRelated Articles:DA Challenges Gov.'s Facts on Drug Issues http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4007.shtmlNo Drug Discussion At School - 12/14/99 http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3999.shtmlGovernor Continues Drug Legalization Crusade - 12/08/99 http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3929.shtmlColumn: Drug War Runs Contrary To Common Sense - 11/19/99 http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3721.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by dan solano on January 02, 2001 at 01:03:23 PT: failed drug war now is the time for all who believe that there is a better way to handle our social drug issue to stand and let the free unblinded thoughts and love flow forward to crush those that wish to incarcerate more americans especially those people of color because the blacks & hispanics are our number 1 victims of this failed drug war.The unseen victem is our constition and the rights we were all born with, as now we no longer have those rights and we inch closer and closer to the police state we are not supposed to be. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on December 19, 1999 at 10:01:44 PT Thanks Doc-Hawk! Thanks Doc!Thanks for all you are doing for MapInc. I think you are very good but I miss seeing posting here but I know how busy you must be! Keep on Keepin' On! Have a Happy Holiday too!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Doc-Hawk on December 19, 1999 at 06:59:13 PT: Governor's Email Gov. Johnson's Web page is: http://www.governor.state.nm.us/ . It has his views UP FRONT!!!!! with links to his policy and speeches on legalization.His contact page is: http://164.64.43.1/Constituent%20Serv/Contact%20form.htm .His old email address is dead - was gov gov.state.nm.us .Doc Welcome to the Drugnews Index [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Doc-Hawk on December 19, 1999 at 05:38:31 PT: Forward to Johnson Hi FoM,I'll clip it and clean it up to send as regular email.Thanks for providing THE Internet forum.The rest of you: WRITE A LETTER!Doc [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 18, 1999 at 22:23:23 PT Thanks! Reading all of your comments, I hope that one of you sends this thread to Governor Johnson. I know that if I was him I would appreciate all of your words.Thanks, Martha G. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by J Christen-Mitchell on December 18, 1999 at 21:58:35 PT: Under The Wheel You guys, you don't get it yet. Most people believe the lies. And want to believe in them because their world would fall apart without someone to blame and to hate. They are taught that we don't believe in our country because we question it. And that we don't believe in God, or family. We are the only politically correct members of society to hate anymore. They will never give that up as their faiths believe that only a few will be saved and their denial will never allow them to admit to themselves that they are wrong. So they can't become enlightened that people should be judged on character, not if they get high. In a decade or so when there are 3 million Americans in our prisons and the economy sours and people are less keen on coming to the U.S. then perhaps what's left of America's Greatest Generation will realize the legacy they are leaving their grandchildren in the Land of The Incarcerated, Home of The Snitch. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by military officer guy on December 18, 1999 at 20:24:28 PT kaptinemo's right... kaptinemo you said a mouth full...we can't afford to be lazy this time...i really think this internet thing is helping our cause, our voice is being spread, and heard...more and more people are hearing he truth and voicing their opinions...don't give up the fight...we can win this thing... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on December 18, 1999 at 17:35:18 PT Passing the Torch The Gov has done about all he can do, right now. The main problem is, as he put it, the status quo. And the status quo is built on lies.But ,now, the status quo has been forced to own up to something: *there is* a thoughtful and articulate opposition to its' policies. Up to now, they've been able to assume (because people like us were too afraid to speak out for fear of attracting unwanted police attention) that silence from the public = approval of their idiotic policies. Up to now, they NEVER HAD TO JUSTIFY those policies. They could just spout their bilge with impunity, and the public would not hear any challenge to it, and assume there was no 'other side'. But now, the public has an inkling that there are alternatives to this madness. And they want to know more. We are making headway, here, in small but increasingly noticable ways. If the Gov has to bow out because of wrongheaded stupidity on the part of his (and OUR) opponents, then it is up to people like us to pick up the baton. Which means political activity. Hounding Congress people and Senators, and letting them know that Johnson isn't the only sensible voice demanding an alternative.Otherwise, his efforts and our hopes will wind up in the trash, like they did in the 70's. Like a lot of people, I mistakenly thought that the legalization would be inevitable, and that MJ would be legal by the 80's, and look what happened. We got lazy... and we've been paying for that ever since. We've got a real chance, now. Let's not blow it this time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Mojo on December 18, 1999 at 16:46:10 PT The "status quo" is the problem Face it -- the Drug Czar and his cohorts in Law Enforcement, the media, and so on are not going to be happy about any attempts to discuss the truth.I remember reading about reform of Marijuana prohibition back in the sixties. The US Government STILL (!!) hasn't gotten over being afraid of the truth here.Gov. Johnson can do a service by providing a better wrapup on this phase of his efforts; I hope he does. The fact that "his" opponents are spreading the same old lies (long discredited -- e.g. re the crime rate in the Netherlands, a Drug Czar specialty libel issue) means they're still afraid.And in fact other politicions ARE beginning to take up the fight. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by military officer guy on December 18, 1999 at 15:35:20 PT don't givve up the fight Johnson... i really hope johnson doesn't give up the fight he has started...i really think he has really helped out cause...please everyone, send your support to him... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: