DRUG STANCE WORRIES BRADLEY

Gov. Gary Johnson could be sending the wrong message to children with his
call for legalization of drugs such as marijuana and heroin, Lt. Gov.
Walter Bradley said Thursday.

"There is some validity to the question of whether a leader who is taking
this position is sending the wrong signal," Johnson's two-time running mate
and second-in-command said in a telephone interview. Bradley, a former
state senator from conservative eastern New Mexico, said he and Johnson
disagree on national drug policy, which the governor has described as a
"miserable failure."

Bradley said the drug war, including its criminal penalties, has been
effective, but is "slipping" and needs to be retooled.

Bradley stressed that he is not angry with the governor, and he supports
Johnson's call for a re-examination of drug policy. But his support ends
where Johnson's call for legalization begins.

Johnson calls for a national drug policy discussion, including the possible
decriminalization of marijuana, already had put him in the national
spotlight. But Bradley said the governor made a "quantum leap" earlier this
week when he moved from asking for debate to supporting the legalization of
heroin and marijuana.

"I don't know how heroin jumped out there," said Bradley, who first heard
of the governor's remarks Thursday morning.

"I was a little taken aback because I had never heard him say that before,"
Bradley said. "If that is indeed what he said, then we don't agree."

Johnson previously had suggested decriminalizing marijuana -- reducing or
eliminating penalties for its use -- would be a starting point. But
decriminalizing drug use without legalizing sales would be hypocritical,
Johnson said Wednesday.

The 46-year-old governor, who has acknowledged using marijuana and cocaine
during college, says he has not used drugs since his early 20s and stopped
drinking alcohol 12 years ago. He repeatedly has called drug use a "bad
choice."

Bradley said Thursday he has never used an illegal drug -- including
marijuana -- but that he does drink alcohol on occasion. He said the same
laws Johnson wants to abolish kept him from using drugs on several
different occasions.

"I have certainly had the opportunity, but the deterrent for me was that it
was illegal," Bradley said. "I didn't want to risk the chance that I might
get caught or have it on my record."

Johnson said that, under his vision of legalization, drug use by minors
would be prohibited. He also has said employers should reserve the right to
screen job applicants or employees for drug use, and crimes committed under
the influence of drugs should carry stricter penalties.

Johnson contends tax dollars spent on drug interdiction and prosecution
would be better spent on drug treatment, education and other
programs.Bradley plans to seek an as-yet unspecified elective office when
his second lieutenant governor term ends in 2002. He said he doesn't think
Johnson's call for drug legalization will hurt Republican candidates.

John Dendahl, the state Republican Party chairman, has said he supports
Johnson's call for a drug policy debate, but has reminded the governor that
the party's national platform advocates strong criminal penalties for
drug-related crimes.

Diane Denish, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, said Thursday that
Johnson's support of legalization makes New Mexico look bad and it sends a
dangerous message to children and families.

The nation should re-evaluate its drug policies, but Johnson's call for
legalization is "crazy," Denish said.

Some will disagree with Johnson's philosophy on the drug war, but the
governor has accomplished his original goal, Bradley said.

"The governor wanted a debate," Bradley said. "Well, he's got it."