cannabisnews.com: Johnson Promotes Drug Legalization





Johnson Promotes Drug Legalization
Posted by FoM on August 02, 2000 at 19:57:33 PT
The Associated Press 
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican
New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson found a receptive audience Tuesday for his message of drug legalization after nearly a year of futilely trying to sell it to skeptical politicians and the public. "Drug prohibition is what is tearing this country apart. It's not drug use. Nobody wants to hear the facts," the Republican governor said to whoops and cheers from an audience at the so-called Shadow Convention. 
The Shadow Convention, under way near the Republican National Convention, is being run by Arianna Huffington, the syndicated columnist and author of How to Overthrow the Government. The gathering, also planned for the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, will focus on three issues Huffington said both parties are overlooking: the corrupting influence of money in politics, the failed war on drugs and the persistence of poverty in America. Johnson is one of the highest ranking public officials to advocate legalization of marijuana and the decriminalization of other drugs such as heroin. He said the drug war discriminates against minorities, leads to an increase in crime, and causes the transmission of disease through needle sharing and the selling of sex for drugs. "Marijuana should be legal," Johnson said. That drew the loudest response from the audience, many of whom waved signs with messages such as, "Stop the War on Drugs." Johnson and the Rev. Jesse Jackson were among several speakers discussing the drug issue. While Johnson said he supports drug legalization and decriminalization, he cautioned convention-goers not to use drugs. "We need to make a distinction between smoking marijuana in the confines of your own home," said Johnson, who has acknowledged his drug use in the past. "Is that a crime? No, that's not a crime. It's a bad decision, but it should not be a crime." Many of New Mexico's delegates at the GOP convention, while supporting the governor on other positions, said they were not pleased with his stance on drug legalization. "It should be abundantly clear by now that there's nothing to be gained by chatting about legalization of drugs," said delegate Rod Adair, a state senator from Roswell. Delegate Jack Fortner of Farmington, said he respected the governor's position but disagreed with it. "I don't know anybody who agrees with him," Fortner said. "Gov. Johnson has been a good governor. He just needs to see the light on this issue." While Johnson may not have endeared himself to his fellow Republicans, he was well received by attendees at the Shadow Convention. Dick Guard, who came from Washington, D.C., to attend the conference, said he admired the governor's courage and conviction. "I think he's speaking for so many disenfranchised people. Now, those people finally have a voice," Guard said. Contact Information:http://www.sfnewmexican.com/contactus/index.lasPublished: August 2, 2000© The Santa Fe New Mexican 2000 Related Articles & Web Sites:The Shadow Conventionshttp://www.shadowconventions.com/Shadow Conventionshttp://www.lindesmith.org/shadowconventions/GOP Gov. Pushes Pot Legalization at Conventionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6597.shtmlJohnson Takes Drug Stance To Philadelphiahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6596.shtmlN.M. Governor Assails Drug War at Rival Eventhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6595.shtmlShadow Convention 2000 News Boardhttp://homepages.go.com/~marthag1/Shadcon.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 CannabisNews Articles On Governor Gary Johnson:http://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Gary+Johnson 
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Comment #1 posted by Natrous on August 03, 2000 at 03:42:12 PT
It's clear...
"It should be abundantly clear by now that there's nothing to be gained by chatting about legalization of drugs," said delegate Rod Adair, a state senator from RoswellAll that's clear from this statement is that this guy just does what he can to get re-elected every term and nothing else concerns him.
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