JOHNSON TAKES DRUG STANCE TO PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA - New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnsonbrought his crusade for drug
legalization to Philadelphia on Tuesday, winning a hero's welcome from
hundreds of participants at a so-called Shadow Convention.

The Republican governor, in a 20-minute speech, outlined the controversial
argument now familiar to many New Mexicans: The drug war is ruining lives
and unnecessarily costing society billions of dollars.

"Marijuana should be legal," Johnson said.

"Drug prohibition is tearing this country apart," Johnson said, drawing
heavy applause and shouts of encouragement from the audience. "Prohibition
is the bogeyman."

The Shadow Convention, organized by syndicated columnist Arianna
Huffington, is being billed as an alternative to the Republican National
Convention taking place across town. The Shadow Convention is focusing on
poverty, campaign finance reform and the war on drugs.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the Rev. Jesse Jackson and actor Warren Beatty
are among celebrities to speak during the four-day event. David Shrier,
interim chairman of the Philadelphia Reform Party and a Shadow Convention
participant, took time to thank Johnson after his speech.

"I'm flabbergasted that a governor has this kind of courage," Shrier said
in an interview. "It's just marvelous."

Johnson was not invited to speak at the Republican National Convention, but
neither were any of New Mexico's other Republican elected officials. The
George W. Bush campaign organized the convention in a way that highlights
more regular Americans and downplays politicians.

Johnson's high-profile support of drug legalization has rankled many New
Mexico Republicans. The governor said he has received a "positive"
reception from New Mexico delegates in Philadelphia, but some of those
delegates expressed wariness after his appearance at the Shadow Convention.

Meribelle "Dusty" Bolton, a New Mexico delegate and vice chair of the state
Republican Party, said she was disappointed that Johnson chose to spend his
time with the Shadow Convention.

Johnson has spent time socializing with the regular New Mexico delegation
but has not been actively involved in the GOP convention.

"He has a perfect right to say anything he wants, but he could have picked
a better time and a better place," Bolton said. "We are building unity, and
this is a very divisive issue," she said.

She said Johnson's drug stance puts New Mexico Republicans in an awkward
position.

"People are laughing at us, and it ain't funny," Bolton said. Johnson, who
quit drinking 13 years ago and hasn't used drugs since his early 20s, said
his legalization push "is not about" condoning drug or alcohol use.
Instead, he hopes to convince Americans that the drug war isn't worth the cost.

"When you consider that half of what we spend on law enforcement, half of
what we spend on the courts and half of what we spend on the prisons is
drug related, is there a bigger issue in the United States today?" Johnson
asked the crowd. "I don't think that there is."

After his speech, about a dozen reporters - including correspondents from
USA Today and MTV News - peppered Johnson with questions about his drug
stance and how his fellow Republicans have responded.

Johnson likened himself to a soldier on the front line of a battle,
explaining that "the first one over the hill gets shot." But because he has
no plans to run for public office again, Johnson said he can afford to take
the heat.

"This is absolute political taboo," said Johnson, who has endorsed Bush for
president. "It can't be addressed at the presidential level, and that's a
shame. It would be the death knell for our candidate to talk about this."

Bush and Vice President Al Gore, the expected Democratic presidential
nominee, both have said they oppose Johnson's call for drug legalization.

Johnson's expenses to attend the Shadow Convention and the Republican
National Convention in Philadelphia are being paid by "sponsors and people
associated with the Republican Party," said Diane Kinderwater, Johnson's
press secretary.

"It's not at taxpayers' expense," said Kinderwater, who accompanied the
governor to Philadelphia. "It doesn't come out of the governor's budget
because this is a political event," she said.

Kinderwater said her expenses also were being paid for by Republican sponsors.

Kinderwater acknowledged that Johnson's security detail is paid with state
money. "Security has to go where he goes," she said.

Also, under state law, Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley becomes acting governor and
is paid a $250 bonus for each day Johnson is out of state.