JOHNSON PARTICIPATES IN DRUG FORUM

Gov. Gary Johnson told a forum on drug war alternatives Tuesday that the
legalization of marijuana, cocaine and heroin will not be trouble-free.

"There are going to be a whole new set of problems to go along with
legalization," the governor said. "We're going to make mistakes under a
legalization model. But we're a dynamic society and we're going to do the
right thing."

Johnson, continuing his push to make drugs legal, said the problems that
may crop up with legalization would be far less than the problems that
exist with the current war on drugs. The governor called the war on drugs a
"hypocrisy." He said those who abuse alcohol go free while "the guy in the
corner with the headset" gets arrested for using marijuana.

"We're going to get to that point where we are going to arrest everyone,"
he said.

Johnson said he's anti-drug and that his objective is to find a solution
that will reduce drug abuse.

"You've got to get the economy of drugs above the line," he said. "Control
it, tax it, regulate it -- and educate around the topic." Critics, such as
national drug czar Barry McCaffrey, have argued that Johnson's push to
legalization drugs would only make drugs more accessible.

The Tuesday discussion was entitled "The Drug War: Who is Winning." A
second forum scheduled here Nov. 16 is entitled "Drug Legalization: A Bold
Alternative to the Drug War."

The forums are sponsored by the nonprofit New Mexico Drug Policy
Foundation, created in 1996 to provide information about the drug war, its
political and social impacts and possible alternatives.

The foundation "is concerned about the efficacy of continuing the current
policy," according to Albuquerque attorney Steve Bunch, its president and
executive director.

Panelists on Tuesday included Ethan Nadelmann of the Lindesmith Center, a
drug policy research institute that supports medical marijuana and needle
exchange programs, and Kevin Zeese of the pro-legalization group Common
Sense for Drug Policy.

The governor's stance, which has moved from decriminalization to
legalization in recent weeks, has provoked the ire of law enforcement
agents around New Mexico and criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike.

Johnson said Friday the failed drug war itself, not his opinions on it, has
demoralized drug agents.

"It isn't me; it's the truth," he said.

"None of this would have any resonance at all if this were crazy.

It's not crazy."