JOHNSON CUTS DRUG 'CENSORSHIP'

SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson on Wednesday said lawmakers were
infringing on his freedom of speech when they tried to prevent him
from spending taxpayer money on his national campaign to legalize
certain drugs.

The anti-drug provision was included in the $3.5 billion budget for
general government operations approved by lawmakers during the special
session, which ended April 4.

Johnson signed most of the budget into law Wednesday. But he used his
line-item veto to slash a provision that banned the use of budget
money to "promote the legalization or decriminalization of controlled
substances."

In his veto message, Johnson said he intends "throughout the remainder
of my term in office" to continue to push for a public debate on the
nation's drug war, which he contends has failed.

Johnson contends legalizing drugs such as heroin and marijuana would
reduce drug use because the substances could be taxed, regulated and
controlled.

Johnson said the budget language banning talk about drug legalization
was a "type of censorship" and "constitutes an impermissible
infringement on freedom of speech as guaranteed by both the New Mexico
and United States Constitutions."

"I must act to protect the marketplace of ideas so that we may all
freely trade our opinions regarding the solutions to the drug and
crime ills that plague New Mexico's citizens," Johnson said.

David Harris, Johnson's top budget adviser, noted that Johnson's
comments on drugs took up a full page of his six-page executive
message on the new $3.5 billion budget.

"They gave him a soapbox, and he used it," Harris said.