cannabisnews.com: GOP Gov. Pushes Pot Legalization at Convention










  GOP Gov. Pushes Pot Legalization at Convention

Posted by FoM on August 02, 2000 at 09:07:36 PT
By Gilbert Gallegos, Scripps Howard News Service 
Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel 

Even as New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is pledging his allegiance to the Republican Party, he left his party's national convention in Philadelphia to rally for the legalization of marijuana. Johnson, a Republican, gave a 20-minute speech Tuesday at the "shadow convention," pitching again for a reversal of the nation's drug policies so that marijuana would be legal."The point here, is we do need to change the law," Johnson said to huge applause at the shadow convention, an event meant to showcase issues that are not being discussed at the Republican National Convention down the street.
"Drug prohibition is what is tearing this country apart," Johnson said. "It's not drug use, and nobody wants to hear that."Overhauling drug policies, including legalizing marijuana, is one of the issues Republicans and Democrats are ignoring, said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Lindesmith Center Drug Policy Foundation.Johnson, a self-described poster boy for the movement to change the nation's drug policies, was trying to attract some national media attention to the issue during his speech at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Center.But to do so, Johnson and other high-profile politicians participating in the shadow convention need to steal the spotlight from the Republican convention at the nearby First Union Center.The dual roles - participating in competing conventions - should not be a problem for Johnson, said Dave Miller, the governor's legislative liaison.Miller emphasized that Johnson's priority in Philadelphia this week is to cheer on the Republican Party and its nominee for president, Texas Gov. George W. Bush.The shadow convention is an "exception" to Johnson's itinerary, Miller said."I certainly see him snugly wearing his Republican hat, making a clear statement of support for George W. Bush's candidacy and the Republican platform," Miller said. "There'll be no goofing around. He's a member of that club."Yet on this one issue of drug policy, he has been asked because of his unique position to speak out on issues of reform."Johnson's "unique position" is that of being one of the highest-ranking elected officials calling for a radical shift in drug policy.While Johnson is in favor of legalizing some drugs, like marijuana and heroin, he has softened his position over the last year to focus more on short-term solutions, such as needle exchanges and methadone clinics, to reduce the effects of drug use.On the Net: The shadow convention appears live on the Internet at: http://www.shadowconventions.com/Contact Gilbert Gallegos of The Tribune in Albuquerque, N.M. at: http://www.abqtrib.comSend E-mail To The Editor:http://www.knoxnews.com/talktous/emaileditor/Albuquerque, N.M. Published: August 02, 2000Copyright © 1999-2000, The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. Related Articles & Web Sites:Governor Gary Johnson's Web Sitehttp://www.governor.state.nm.us/The Shadow Conventionshttp://www.shadowconventions.com/Shadow Conventionshttp://www.lindesmith.org/shadowconventions/Shadow Convention 2000 News Boardhttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/sd.htmMapInc. Articles On The Shadow Conventions:http://mapinc.org/shadow.htm CannabisNews Articles On The Shadow Conventions:http://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=shadow Johnson Takes Drug Stance To Philadelphiahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6596.shtmlN.M. Governor Assails Drug War at Rival Eventhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6595.shtmlCannabisNews Articles On Governor Gary Johnson:http://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Gary+Johnson

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Comment #2 posted by Dirk, on August 06, 2001 at 14:10:31 PT:

listen here
Well,I can say that my goal is to move to a place where I can calmly sit down and have a smoke. And not have to worry about going to jail. Or paying huge fines, and lets face it thats one of the reasons it's illegal. But I say to the leaders of America,and I am not just speaking for my self.Everyone smokes pot,everyone. the people who don't, probably did,and had to quit for a job,wich you can pass now any ways,or they we're scared by the fact that you could get into trouble.Everyone that I've ever met that doesnt smoke it says that they would if it was legal.And think of the money the government could make with tax, we would gladly pay it. Look what we pay for cigarettes.Well I guess we will have to work, save or money,and take vacations to Europe and spend it all there.  
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Comment #1 posted by observer on August 02, 2000 at 11:14:19 PT

Gov. Pushes Pot

Gov. Pushes Pot . . .Is it me ... or do mainstream papers use the term "push" (as in "to push drugs") just a little too often when describing Gov. Johnson's desire to cease jailing cannabis users. At least they mentioned him.
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