SENATE REPUBLICANS QUICKLY SPEAK UP, SAY NO TO DRUG STAND

SANTA FE -- Senate Republicans want to make their opposition to
Republican Gov. Gary Johnson's drug-legalization push official.

Senate Minority Leader L. Skip Vernon introduced a legislative
memorial during Tuesday's opening day opposing "efforts to legalize or
decriminalize illegal drugs."

"The main reason for doing this is that every single Republican in the
Senate has said, 'I am adamantly opposed to the governor's position on
legalizing drugs,'" said Vernon, an Albuquerque Republican.

A memorial does not carry the weight of a law, but it can clearly
state the Legislature's position on a specific issue.

Copies of memorials approved by the Legislature are delivered to the
governor.

Johnson this summer announced that he favors legalizing drugs such as
marijuana and heroin, and described the "war on drugs" as a costly
failure. A former Cabinet member characterized Johnson's actions as a
crusade to legalize drugs in New Mexico and America.

The governor has said he has no plans to propose drug legislation
during the 2000 New Mexico Legislature.

But that hasn't calmed the political nerves of some GOP legislators as
the 2000 elections near.

Vernon, who plans to run for district attorney in Bernalillo County,
said Democrats have made it clear they plan to link Republicans to
Johnson's drug stance.

"Even Diane Denish (the Democratic Party chairwoman) has said we're
going to make sure that everyone knows this is the Republican
position," Vernon said. "This is not the Republican position. It's the
governor's position."

He stressed that government policy should not favor drug
use.

"If you want to destroy any group, what you try to do is get them all
to take drugs," Vernon said. "I don't think anyone who really cares
about people. . . would ever suggest that taking drugs isn't harmful,
reprehensible. It should be illegal."