GOVERNOR CLARIFIES DRUG VIEW

Johnson: N.M. Shouldn't Move Alone on Policy

SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson is unfazed by sharp criticism from fellow
Republicans and law officials of his call for a public dialogue on the
nation's drug policies.

But Johnson said he agrees with some Republicans that New Mexico cannot, on
its own, consider decriminalizing or legalizing drugs because the state
would risk becoming a haven for addicts.

"I would agree with that," Johnson said in an interview. "We are talking
about federal law, and I see this as a national issue."

In June, Johnson said the nation's drug war has been a "miserable failure"
and should be at the forefront of public debate. Johnson wants discussion
of the drug problem to include decriminalization, which means eliminating
or reducing penalties for drug use.

"And you've got to be willing to talk about legalization," Johnson said in
an interview in St. Louis, where he was attending an annual meeting of the
National Governors Association.

Johnson's earlier stance provoked a barrage of criticism, particularly from
other New Mexico Republicans and law officials.

While Johnson was on vacation in late July, state Republican Party chairman
John Dendahl sent the governor a letter on behalf of the party's executive
committee.

The letter urged Johnson to oppose any consideration of eliminating
criminal sanctions for drug use in New Mexico alone.

"New Mexico or any other state that does otherwise risks becoming a haven
for addicts," Dendahl wrote in the letter. The letter said New Mexico
youths "are not well-served by hearing that 'Governor Johnson approves drug
use.'"

"None of us doubts your personal aversion to drugs, but the executive
committee is concerned that 'decriminalization' is too easily taken to mean
'approval,'" the letter said.

Johnson, in his first public response to the letter, said he was aware that
many people worry that legalizing drugs would make them more available to
children.

"This one's a hard issue with politicians," Johnson said. "There isn't a
bigger taboo topic because if you're going to talk about legalization,
you're talking making it more available for kids."

But Johnson said he believes drugs already are readily available to young
people.

"I saw a poll that 95 percent of kids in high school say that illegal drugs
are readily available," said Johnson, who could not provide specifics on
the poll. "I don't know how it gets more readily available than that."

Johnson, who has acknowledged he was a recreational user of marijuana in
college and occasionally used cocaine at that time, stressed that he is not
condoning drug use.

"Absolutely not. Bad choice. Bad choice. Don't do drugs," said Johnson, who
has two teen-age children. "I'm not advocating breaking the law, but,
personally, I don't think you should go to jail for smoking marijuana."

Members of the state Drug Enforcement Advisory Council, many handpicked by
Johnson to serve as his drug advisers, also have criticized the governor
for his comments on drugs.

And U.S. Attorney John Kelly, a council member, blasted Johnson for raising
the issue without providing solutions.

"That doesn't surprise me," Johnson said when told of Kelly's and other
council members' comments. "I mean, this is the process right now. And what
I'm telling people is, 'Hey, you absolutely, completely, totally have a
right to disagree or to express your ideas on this topic, but we ought to
be talking about it.' ... No one has anything to fear from dialogue."