N.M. GOVERNOR SOFT ON DRUGS

He Admits He Used Pot, Cocaine. Everyone Just Wishes 'I Would Hush Up'

These days, it seems, they're lining up to give New Mexico Gov. Gary
Johnson an earful: Barry R. McCaffrey, the national drug czar, has called
him irresponsible and his ideas dangerous.

The local sheriff recently called Johnson an "idiot" and suggested he check
himself into a mental hospital. But the sharpest lash was applied by the
middle school cheerleading squad from the town of Bernalillo, which
boycotted an event with the state's chief executive.

The spirited youngsters said they could not, in good conscience, wave
pompons in support of an adult who advocated drug use.

Johnson is a second-term Republican in a state that, under his watch, has
led the nation in per capita drug-induced deaths. Even so, he can't fathom
why his call for the legalization of all illicit drugs, including heroin,
is causing such a fuss.

He's not clear why, when he told a group of high school students that his
experiences smoking marijuana were "cool," there was something of a backlash.

It happened again after his assertion that the drug war has been one of the
biggest policy failures in national history -- doesn't everyone know that?

Johnson's effort to open a dialogue on national drug policy has been an
overwhelming success -- if screaming and name-calling somehow can advance
intelligent debate. Since he began to call for the legalization of drugs a
few months ago, Johnson's message about controlling, regulating and taxing
drugs has been drowned out by those who claim the 46-year-old governor is
sending New Mexico's youth to hell in a hand basket and is single-handedly
deflating the morale of his state's peace officers.

But instead of running from the firestorm, Johnson is on the advance. He
has planned at least 50 speeches on the topic and has agreed to debate the
Albuquerque district attorney.

His provocative views have found fans in at least one political quarter:
The Libertarian Party launched a campaign to draft Johnson as a
presidential candidate. He was flattered, but declined.

"My belief is that the truth will prevail," said Johnson, who has created a
slogan:

"Just say know." "I am going to be totally vindicated on this by history."

Johnson, who is married and a father of two, is an unlikely villain in a
debate about drugs.

While he has admitted to experimenting with cocaine and maintaining a
serious marijuana habit while in college, he said he quit drugs after
graduating and gave up drinking alcohol 12 years ago.

Johnson says he plans to leave politics after his term ends in 2002. As
proof of his sincerity, Johnson points out that he never would have
championed legalizing heroin if he aspired to remain in public office.

The governor doesn't rule out continuing his crusade from the private
sector, and even some Republicans -- who are outnumbered 2 to 1 in the
state by Democrats -- believe that's just the proper place for the
outspoken Johnson.

"We know there is no muzzling Gary," said John Dendahl, chairman of the New
Mexico Republican Party, adding that Republicans in the Legislature were
"frankly, kind of appalled" by Johnson's views.

His GOP colleagues "wish I would hush up," Johnson said, "and the Democrats
wish I would hush up. Nobody wants to deal with the issue."