GOV. PREACHES TO CHOIR ON DRUG REFORM

Gov. Gary Johnson paid a visit to the heart of the national pro-marijuana
movement Thursday and vowed to keep fighting for drug law reform in New Mexico.

The Republican governor, who over the past two years has become a national
leader in the drug legalization crusade, spoke Thursday at the annual
convention of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws,
or NORML.

At least 200 NORML supporters, gathered at a fancy downtown hotel and
wearing everything from tie-dyed T-shirts to business suits, gave the
governor a warm reception, especially when he talked about his efforts to
change New Mexico's drug laws.

Johnson offered about a dozen drug reform proposals during the latest
legislative session, but only a handful were signed into law. The governor
said he will push for even more reform during the remaining two years of
his term.

He argued that his proposals forced New Mexico leaders to have a "more
advanced" drug reform debate than any other state.

"I'm not viewing what happened in New Mexico as a setback at all," Johnson
said. "Hopefully we will revive the (failed legislation) and then be open
to new pieces."

During his speech, Johnson outlined his drug views, now familiar to many
New Mexicans. He stressed that drug laws account for half of the nation's
spending on courts, jails and law enforcement, and suggested that money
could be put to much better use.

An admitted former recreational drug user, Johnson told NORML supporters --
many of whom who openly admit their marijuana use -- that he hasn't done
drugs or alcohol in at least 13 years. And he urged the audience to quit
smoking pot and drinking.

But he said most marijuana users are unjustly persecuted.

"Most people don't want to admit it, but for the most part people who smoke
marijuana are responsible users of marijuana," Johnson said. "They choose
when and where to smoke it, and they are not doing any harm to anyone else."

John Gilmore fit right in with many of those attending the NORML conference
in Washington this week -- long hair, long beard, wire-rim glasses and
tie-dyed socks under Teva sandals.

But the San Francisco resident is not a stereotypical pot-smoking hippie.
He's a multimillionaire computer mogul who helped launch Sun Microsystems
in California two decades ago. Gilmore said it's "refreshing" that a
Republican governor is leading the drug reform effort. He also said his own
life is proof that drug use doesn't always doom people to failure.

"Smoking marijuana doesn't turn you into a monster," Gilmore said. "The
vast majority of people who use illegal drugs are responsible citizens who
are keeping their lives together."

Johnson's trip to Washington was paid for by NORML. But the state of New
Mexico will pick up a tab of at least $5,200 for his security detail's air
fare and hotel stays during his nearly two-week trip, said governor's
attorney David McCumber.

The governor also was scheduled for a flurry of national television
appearances, including "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

Johnson denied that the drug issue is distracting him from the job voters
elected him to do. He said failed drug policy robs the state of money that
could be used for education, health care improvements and more effective
law enforcement. "Arguably it's the biggest issue in any state," Johnson said.

Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., said she disagrees with Johnson's drug views,
but that he has a right to air them.

"It's a free country," Wilson said in a telephone interview. "I disagree
with him on this issue. I think it sends the wrong message to kids.