HE JUST SAID NO -- TO THE DRUG WAR

For me, Matthew Miller's article on New Mexico's governor, Gary Johnson
(Aug. 20), both supplied a definition and raised a question. The definition
is for "hubris." Surely this describes his bootstrap and willpower
solutions for poverty and drug treatment, and especially his business
philosophy. It would be nice to see him earn $100,000 a year cleaning
houses. The question is: What's he smoking?

Emily Patch
Portland, Ore.

How refreshing! A politician who takes a public stand on an unpopular
issue. Perhaps Gary Johnson's courage will provoke study of the results of
legislation in countries that have decriminalized drugs and an open
discussion of the ramifications of such legislation in our own country.

Sandra Burlingame
Portland, Ore.

(snip)

We asked online readers of Matthew Miller's article on Gov. Gary Johnson of
New Mexico for their reactions to his positions on drugs. Here are some
responses from Abuzz, a New York Times online knowledge network. Add your
thoughts and see what other readers are saying in Abuzz.

I agree with Governor Johnson's stand for the legalization of marijuana. I
personally do not use it, but I have tried it in the past. As far as I'm
concerned, the biggest crime it causes is a need for snacks and for long
periods of sleep. (kmitchell)

Johnson is right. Marijuana is less addictive than cigarettes and less
harmful than alcohol. Let's spend the money on educating our kids and
helping the undisciplined to become disciplined. (rrs)

Johnson is, for the most part, right on. Marijuana, heroin, cocaine, etc.
should not be "legalized," that is, available for commercial exploitation.
But their "social" use should be decriminalized. And the victims-abusers
should have access to treatment, as with alcohol. (clevenick)

Why won't other politicians listen? Are they too addicted to the status
quo? (rcvandy)

I once did a paper on the criminalization of drugs by the Harrison Act of
1914. Before that, drug use was a medical matter between you and your
physician. People seem to forget that organized crime really took off in
this country during Prohibition. (philipz333)

Reassess our position on drugs? It's time to give the Boston Tea Party a
whole new meaning. (richard brooks)