GOVERNOR SCHOOLS CLASS ON HIS DRUG STANCE

Gov. Gary Johnson took his drug legalization message -- call it Drugs 101
- -- to a more academic audience: a class full of University of New Mexico
seniors enrolled in History 492.

And while not everyone in the class appeared to buy Johnson's
drug-legalization argument, Johnson said he felt comfortable that the
students were open-minded to his ideas.

The UNM class, known formally as "A History of Drug Wars in the United
States," is the product of Johnson's much-publicized views on legalizing
some drugs.

History Professor David Farber taught the seminar this summer, and invited
Johnson to be a guest lecturer on Monday.

"My hat's off to them and the time they've devoted to this subject,"
Johnson said after his foray as a first-time college instructor. "They can
be real advocates for the education that has to go along with this subject."

Johnson started his speech by telling the students that he softened his
position on drugs this week to only advocate the legalization of marijuana
and not heroin. He said he has a more realistic chance of convincing people
that making marijuana legal would lead to less crime, fewer overdoses and a
more healthy community.

Audrey Thibodea said she had a difficult time believing that concept --
especially for hard drugs like heroin -- as she researched the heroin
problems plaguing northern New Mexico towns like Espanola.

But Thibodea said Johnson's message is starting to resonate with her, even
if he's now limiting it to marijuana. She said if Johnson's right, a
community like Espanola can redirect money from putting drug-users in
prison to finding help for addicts.

"I think you're slowly convincing me toward reducing the harm . . ."
Thibodea told Johnson. "It does make sense."

Johnson has preached his push for legalizing drugs on both local and
national stages, speaking to diverse groups ranging from a Santa Fe private
school to Libertarian policy wonks who agree with Johnson that the federal
government's war on drugs has failed.

The UNM students glazed over the effectiveness of the war on drugs, and
focused instead on whether Johnson's radical views that legalization is the
answer to many of society's problems has any merit.

One student, for example, said he may agree with Johnson's legalization
message, but his problem is whether kids would get easier access to drugs.

Another student, who said he was "on the fence" as far as legalizing
heroin, nevertheless took Johnson to task for backing away from the heroin
issue if that's what he believes in.

Others picked apart foreign-policy concerns, raised questions about the
future of organized crime and legal implications of drug legalization.

Johnson's response: "That's why a course like this ... that's why your
awareness of this goes a long way."