N.M. LAW ENFORCEMENT 'DRUG' INTO JOHNSON MESS

New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson's decision to make a mockery of the nation's
drug laws has produced at least one unfortunate consequence: It has damaged
severely his relationship with the state's law enforcement community.

Imagine that.

About two dozen chiefs of police and county sheriffs gathered recently in
Albuquerque to formally declare their opposition to Johnson's assertion
that the nation ought to "decriminalize" the use of drugs, including
heroin. Johnson, who admits to smoking marijuana when he was much younger,
has raised the hackles of many a police officer around his state with his
declaration that the nation's drug war has been a "miserable failure."

Bernalillo County Sheriff Joe Bowdich was quite pointed in his criticism of
Johnson and in his description of the campaign to rid the nation of illicit
drugs. "We're not killing people," said the sheriff in suggesting that the
"war on drugs" is a misnomer because the word "war" suggests that law
enforcers are responsible for the death and misery brought by drugs. "Drugs
kill people," he said.

"I do think the governor was irresponsible when he said smoking marijuana
is cool," said Roswell Police Chief Richard Campbell.

Perhaps equally troubling about this drug imbroglio is the damage that
Johnson's remarks have done to police officers' credibility in the field.
The governor has made officers' very difficult job even tougher by sending
a signal to New Mexicans that implies it is OK to smoke pot, use harder
drugs and to flout federal drug laws. His remarks arguably have emboldened
drug dealers who prey on young people.

A Johnson spokeswoman said the governor believes drug legalization would
make job responsibilities safer for drug enforcement officers.

However, the current debate poses the real danger of doing exactly the
opposite. In the meantime, the governor has helped stir the pot of
discontent among the very people he depends on to maintain law and order in
his state.

Nice going, Governor.