CAPITOL REFERENCES INCLUDE PLAYBOY

SANTA FE - Playboy typically appears in shrink-wrap behind store counters,
not at legislative hearings.

But Senate President Pro Tem Manny Aragon on Tuesday brought the most
recent issue of the magazine to a meeting of the interim Legislative
Finance Committee to highlight the issues of drugs and immigration.

The January issue features an interview with Gov. Gary Johnson that focuses
on Johnson's support for legalizing some drugs.

Aragon, an Albuquerque Democrat, strategically placed three small pieces of
paper over parts of cover girl Gabrielle Reese when he displayed the
magazine during the Statehouse meeting.

"I covered it up as best I could," Aragon said.

The magazine was a source of levity throughout the daylong meeting on
budgets for state agencies in the 2002 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

"I'm really glad you're taking an interest in the governor, buying
magazines," joked Sen. Ben Altamirano, D-Silver City, who is chairman of
the committee.

During an interview, Aragon said he brought the magazine because Johnson's
interview "appears to open up the avenues of discussion" on drugs.

Aragon said he believes heroin is more addictive than the Republican
governor apparently does.

But the Senate leader said he shared Johnson's support of allowing
marijuana use for medical reasons.

"I think drugs should be legalized for any medically recognized purpose
wherein it will improve the quality of life of a person undergoing a
medical procedure or under a tremendous amount of pain," Aragon said.

Although Aragon's copy of Playboy remained face-down during much of the
committee meeting, he picked it up to quote from a passage in which Johnson
advocated opening the Mexican border.

Aragon said the United States has a much less restrictive border policy
with Canada, which he said is home to the "most potent type of marijuana."

"I think that the United States has a real double standard," Aragon said.