RALLY SUPPORTS CHANGES IN DRUG LAWS

Rally Supports Changes In Drug Laws

SANTA FE -- Supporters of drug law changes are mobilizing a citizen
lobbying campaign in the Legislature on behalf of Gov. Gary Johnson's
proposals to decriminalize marijuana and legalize medical uses of marijuana.

"While smoking marijuana is not wrong, fighting the drug war is immoral and
we need to stop it right now. It is time for a hemp revolution," said Ben
Tucker, a student at the University of New Mexico.

He was among about 30 people who rallied in the Capitol on Thursday in
support of the governor's drug policy reform agenda.

John McCall, a lawyer from Albuquerque, said groups backing Johnson were
encouraging people to send letters and e-mail, make telephone calls and use
talk radio programs to speak in favor of the governor's legislative proposals.

The Washington-based National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws, or NORML, began airing radio ads this week in support of the drug law
changes.

The governor proposes to decriminalize possession of up to 1 ounce of
marijuana, treating it like a traffic violation that would be subject to a
civil fine but no arrest, jail time or criminal record.

Johnson wants to legalize the use of marijuana as medicine for people
suffering from certain illnesses, such as cancer. The governor also
proposes to eliminate prison time for people caught a first or second time
possessing small amounts of a wide range of drugs, including cocaine and
heroin. Currently, initial felony possession of the drugs can carry a
prison sentence of up to 18 months.

A 1978 New Mexico law allows medical marijuana only as part of a research
project, but nothing has been funded for more than a decade.

Bruce Bush, director of the Delta-9 Coalition and one-time Libertarian
candidate for the U.S. Senate, said state and federal laws against
marijuana were "the last of the Jim Crow laws and they need to be repealed
because . . . they are based on hatred and used as an excuse to target
select unpopular individuals and groups."

Richard Haley of New Mexico NORML urged people to lobby legislators to
legalize marijuana. Even if possession is decriminalized, he said, there is
no legal way to buy or grow marijuana.

"We need to push it all the way through. If we can't get them to agree to
it this legislative session, we need to be here next session and every
session after that until we have completely legalized the use of marijuana
for personal reasons," Haley said.