cannabisnews.com: 60 Minutes To Air Johnson Drug Views 





60 Minutes To Air Johnson Drug Views 
Posted by FoM on April 23, 2000 at 07:09:02 PT
Journal Staff Report 
Source: ABQjournal 
Gov. Gary Johnson's campaign for drug reform and the legalization of some illicit drugs will be featured on the CBS television newsmagazine program "60 Minutes," his press secretary said Wednesday. Commentator Ed Bradley interviewed Johnson in December on his drug views for the profile scheduled to be aired at 6 p.m. Sunday, said Diane Kinderwater, the governor's press secretary. 
"The governor will be attacking the nation's failed drug war," she said. "Not only is it an expensive war, but it's locking up hundreds of thousands of Americans." Lauren Reichelt, the Rio Arriba County director of health and human services, also was interviewed by Bradley about her role in combating a black-tar heroin crisis centered in the Española Valley. Since 1995, more than 180 people have died of cocaine or heroin overdoses in Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties. Johnson said last month he knew his popularity would plummet because of his desire to have drugs such as marijuana and heroin legalized. Johnson's approval rating with state voters has plunged almost 20 points in the past year, dropping from 54 percent in April 1999 to 35 percent last month, according to an Albuquerque Journal poll. More than two-thirds of New Mexico voters surveyed in the poll called Johnson's push to legalize marijuana and heroin a bad idea. In spite of the opposition, Johnson this month vetoed a provision in the $3.5 billion state budget that would have banned the use of budget money to "promote the legalization or decriminalization of controlled substances." Johnson, who has spent state funds in the past on trips to promote his drug views, said the budget provision was an infringement on his freedom of speech. However, Johnson added he won't spend any more state money for his own travel on out-of-state trips promoting his drug views, although his security detail would still be paid with state funds. Published: Thursday, April 20, 2000Copyright © 1997 - 2000 Albuquerque JournalRelated Articles & Web Sites:Governor Gary Johnson's Home Pagehttp://www.governor.state.nm.us/The New Mexico Drug Policy Foundationhttp://www.newmexicodrugpolicy.org/60 Minutes Web Site:http://cbsnews.cbs.com/now/section/0,1636,3415-412,00.shtmlJohnson Cuts Drug Censorship http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5379.shtml60 Minutes To Air Johnson Drug Views - Original Articlehttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5463.shtmlCannabisNews Articles On Governor Gary Johnson - Over 220 News Items:http://google.com/search?lc=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+Governor+Johnson++site:cannabisnews.com 
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Comment #5 posted by mungojelly on April 24, 2000 at 11:27:14 PT:
a graveyard full of heroin users
That's what I remember them dwelling on, was that graveyard full of people, & all of them are there because of heroin. They gave Gov Johnson a few seconds to try to explain why that graveyard is not a good argument for prohibition, but it's not that easy. It's not easy to explain, because there is absolutely no reason to believe that a graveyard full of heroin users IS a good argument for prohibition. No reason whatsoever. But they've just kept saying that: look at all these heroin users, look at how they suffer & die. Naturally we feel sympathetic. & Then they somehow use that as an explanation of why we should continue to send these poor souls to prison. Why we should continue to make sure that their drugs will be cut with dangerous substances. Why we should make them afraid to seek treatment. Why we should make it profitable for dealers to push this addictive substance upon them. It boggles the mind that the drug warriors can point to the graves of all of the drug users who die under their regime as evidence that their policies are necessary & right. But that is what decades of absolute control of the media has done for them: they have a seemingly unshakable positive image. That, however, is exactly why these first few blows of true dissent are so powerful. Gov Johnson did not get enough time to change that many people's minds (that will take years), but he was there on television, he was there after the standard drug-warrior heroin-graveyard bit, & he was saying that it is the drug warriors who are responsible. He said it. My favorite part of the profile was when they showed the Governor talking to his own drug enforcement team about his views: the stunned looks on their faces were priceless. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. & If they were smart, they knew that what they were watching was an important step towards the end of drug prohibition. 
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Comment #4 posted by Kanabys on April 24, 2000 at 08:40:12 PT
I too
I too commend Gov. Johnson on his views. I did not see the interview, but It sounds like it went fairly well. I also totally agree with legalizeit, McCrappie has a BUTT-UGLY face, {or is that his face?}
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Comment #3 posted by legalizeit on April 24, 2000 at 08:35:08 PT
Travesty
It just shows how really screwed up our political system is, when it is virtual political suicide for one to publicly state the only logical solution to a completely illogical and draconian policy.At least now the seed of ending the drug war is in some way planted in the national psyche, because 60 Minutes is one of the highest-watched news shows on TV. Maybe, just maybe, people will realize the nonsensical nature of the drug war and its warriors, and vote accordingly at the next elections.I salute Mr. Johnson for his bravery and willingness to stand up for what is right for America and the rest of the world, as many other countries have mimicked the failed US drug policies.It was fine for 60 Minutes to state dissenting views, but did they have to put the McCzar's ugly mug up there? He has enough publicity already.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 23, 2000 at 16:49:02 PT
I was impressed!
I agree observer! I was impressed with the interview. They had to show the bad side of drug abuse or they wouldn't be 60 minutes. They did let him talk and they allowed him to state a few times that he didn't believe a person should go to jail for using drugs. I liked when they showed the young man's eyes when they made him admit he still is a Heroin Addict. It was a compassionate shot, I think.Peace, FoM!
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Comment #1 posted by observer on April 23, 2000 at 16:27:13 PT
I Was Wrong
Happily, my prediction was wrong: (with a few caveats) they seemed to give Gov Johnson a fair shake, going as far as to give him the last word. I was a slightly disappointed that they seemed to isolate him a little, in that 60 Minutes referred to this as "his idea" etc.; and while interviewing his critics, they did not interview his notable supporters. Still, time is extremely limited in that format and I was impressed that 60 Minutes let him answer his critics without too much chopping (or so it seemed). I thought Gov Johnson did a great job. 
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