NATURAL LAW HOPEFUL EXPLORES GOV'S DRUG STANCE

An unconventional vice presidential candidate was in New Mexico on Tuesday
to woo voters - and to meet with an unconventional governor.

Natural Law Party vice presidential nominee Nat Goldhaber met privately on
Tuesday with Republican Gov. Gary Johnson in Albuquerque.

Goldhaber, the running mate of presidential candidate John Hagelin, also
spoke at the New Mexico Native American 2000 Election Forum at Isleta Pueblo.

Goldhaber said he wanted to meet Johnson because of the governor's
controversial national push to legalize marijuana and to change other drug
laws.

"Our party has taken a stance of decriminalizing all drugs - user-level
quantities - rather than legalization, and I wanted to probe the governor
to see his rationale and how well he has thought this through," Goldhaber
said in an interview after his meeting with Johnson.

"The governor's arguments (in favor of legalization) are very credible,
although he didn't change my mind," Goldhaber said. "I still think we need
to test the waters with decriminalization to see if, in fact, you see
(drug) use levels going up and other ramifications."

Goldhaber said he was curious how Johnson is able to adopt such a radical
view as legalizing drugs and remain "within a major mainstream political
party."

"After meeting him I think he's just an entrepreneur and he does it, 'Damn
the torpedoes, full speed ahead,' '' said Goldhaber.

Johnson, who supports Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the Republican
presidential nominee, said he agreed to meet with Goldhaber because of
their "entrepreneurial connection."

"He's never sought office before, and he's spending all his own money,"
Johnson said in an interview after their meeting. "He's a pretty impressive
guy, a smart guy."

Goldhaber is described as the first "dot-com millionaire" to run on a
presidential ticket.