cannabisnews.com: Drug Ideas Land Governor on Podium Drug Ideas Land Governor on Podium Posted by FoM on July 04, 2000 at 07:07:36 PT By Loie Fecteau, Journal Capitol Bureau Source: ABQjournal Gov. Gary Johnson has something in common with Warren Beatty, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and John McCain. All are scheduled to be featured speakers at so-called "shadow" conventions July 30 through Aug. 4 during the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and Aug. 13 through 17 during the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Johnson said he was invited to speak at the shadow conventions by syndicated columnist and author Arianna Huffington because of his national push to legalize marijuana and change other drug laws. Huffington, a vocal drug war opponent, is one of the hosts of the shadow conventions, along with Common Cause, the Lindesmith Center and other activist groups. "I have agreed to go to both shadow conventions," Johnson said in a recent interview. "I just want the opportunity to talk about issues that I consider to be important," said Johnson, a Republican, who said he also plans to attend the Republican National Convention. Johnson said he plans to talk about his views on drugs at the shadow conventions. He is not expected to speak at the Republican National Convention. The shadow conventions are billed by organizers as "a powerful alternative to the major party conventions, focusing on the issues that the parties just won't touch." "These shadow conventions will focus on three critical public-interest issues that the major political parties have failed to address: campaign finance reform; poverty and the growing wealth gap; and the failed war on drugs," according to the group's Web site, www.shadowconventions.com. Huffington cited Johnson in a recent column as part of a growing minority of "high-profile pols" willing to speak out against the war on drugs. "Common sense finally seems to be gaining the edge on demagoguery and pandering," Huffington wrote. "The government's war on drugs has become a war on its own citizens. It's heartening to see more and more people crying out that it's time to sue for peace." In a policy paper on the nation's drug war, shadow convention organizers call for a shift in government resources from interdiction and incarceration to public health and education. Johnson supports such a shift. "Drug policy reform is rapidly emerging as a new movement for political and social justice in the United States — one that calls for drug policies based upon common sense, science, public health and human rights," said Ethan Nadelmann, director of the Lindesmith Center, a leading national group pushing for drug law reform. Funded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros, the Lindesmith Center is privately paying the expenses of a new drug policy advisory group created by Johnson last month in New Mexico. Johnson wants the advisory group, chaired by retired state District Judge W.C. "Woody" Smith of Albuquerque, to develop so-called "harm reduction" policies in New Mexico for harder drugs, such as heroin. The policies would include treatment and prevention programs, needle exchanges, increased education, government-run clinics to dispense drugs to addicts and methadone prescription programs.Published: Tuesday, July 4, 2000 Copyright © 1997 - 2000 Albuquerque JournalRelated Articles & Web Sites:Shadow Conventionshttp://www.shadowconventions.com/Arianna Onlinehttp://www.ariannaonline.com/Overthrow The Governmenthttp://www.overthrowthegov.com/The Soros Foundation Networkhttp://www.soros.org/The Lindesmith Centerhttp://www.lindesmith.org/Common Causehttp://www.commoncause.org/ Activists Plan To Counter The Conventions http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6286.shtmlUnconventional Politicshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6275.shtmlCannabisNews Justice Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by dddd on July 04, 2000 at 18:19:28 PT Far Out The more I think about this alternate "Shadow " convention,,,,the more I have to say ,(again),,,,that this is an exciting event.For the first time,it will bring the views of the critics of government,into a national forum. The national media and networks,will not be able to resist covering it...........Thanx FoM........dddd [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: