'60 MINUTES' TO AIR JOHNSON DRUG VIEWS

Gov. Gary Johnson's campaign for drug reform and the legalization of some
illicit drugs will be featured on the CBS television newsmagazine program
"60 Minutes," his press secretary said Wednesday.

Commentator Ed Bradley interviewed Johnson in December on his drug views for
the profile scheduled to be aired at 6 p.m. Sunday, said Diane Kinderwater,
the governor's press secretary.

"The governor will be attacking the nation's failed drug war," she said.
"Not only is it an expensive war, but it's locking up hundreds of thousands
of Americans."

Lauren Reichelt, the Rio Arriba County director of health and human
services, also was interviewed by Bradley about her role in combating a
black-tar heroin crisis centered in the Espanola Valley. Since 1995, more
than 180 people have died of cocaine or heroin overdoses in Rio Arriba and
Santa Fe counties.

Johnson said last month he knew his popularity would plummet because of his
desire to have drugs such as marijuana and heroin legalized.

Johnson's approval rating with state voters has plunged almost 20 points in
the past year, dropping from 54 percent in April 1999 to 35 percent last
month, according to an Albuquerque Journal poll.

More than two-thirds of New Mexico voters surveyed in the poll called
Johnson's push to legalize marijuana and heroin a bad idea.

In spite of the opposition, Johnson this month vetoed a provision in the
$3.5 billion state budget that would have banned the use of budget money to
"promote the legalization or decriminalization of controlled substances."

Johnson, who has spent state funds in the past on trips to promote his drug
views, said the budget provision was an infringement on his freedom of
speech.

However, Johnson added he won't spend any more state money for his own
travel on out-of-state trips promoting his drug views, although his security
detail would still be paid with state funds.