JOHNSON SEES PUBLIC DRUG POLICY FORUMS IN '99; GOP AGAINST PUBLICITY

SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson plans to make drug policy a subject of public
forums this fall, but it's a topic that the governor's fellow Republicans
would rather avoid as New Mexico approaches the election season.

Johnson hopes to organize, in conjunction with the League of Women Voters,
at least three forums to start a public debate on how the state and nation
deals with the problem of drug abuse.

In an interview this week, Johnson said no dates or locations have been
determined for the forums, but he has met with representatives of the
league, who agreed to moderate any public sessions on drug policy.

However, the governor doesn't expect the meetings will lead to any changes
in New Mexico's drug laws during next year's Legislature.

"I'd be open to legislation, but I just don't see it happening," Johnson
said. "I'm not looking to propose any legislation."

Johnson doesn't believe people should be sent to jail for smoking marijuana,
but he continues to view drug trafficking as criminal and worth prison time.

Johnson said he doesn't see any political support for changing New Mexico's
drug laws, such as reducing or eliminating penalties for drug use.

"It's completely, politically totally unpalatable across the board --
Democrats, Republicans," said Johnson. "I just don't see anybody touching
it. Right now I'm out on my own. I'm flying alone."

That's right, according to one of the Legislature's top GOP leaders.

"It's a lousy election issue," House Republican Leader Ted Hobbs of
Albuquerque said Friday. "It's the wrong issue to raise. I'll tell you, the
Republican folks I'm working with are unhappy it's being raised."

Hobbs said it might be worthwhile to hold public forums to debate the
state's drug policy, but "if these forums and discussions start with the
idea that decriminalization is an important answer to the problem, that's a
mistake and I disagree."

Next year, all 112 seats in the Legislature are up for election and
Republicans would like to make gains in the House and Senate. Currently,
Democrats hold majorities in both chambers -- 40-30 in the House and 25-17
in the Senate.

Johnson emphasizes that he's not condoning the use of drugs -- especially by
children -- by trying to encourage a public debate on whether to eliminate
or reduce penalties for users of drugs, such as marijuana. He hopes the
forums will force the public to reconsider whether too much money and
manpower is directed at combating illegal drug use, consuming enormous
amounts of resources in law enforcement, courts and prisons.

The governor said he's developed a new slogan that is a word play on "Just
say, no," the national mantra against drug use by youth. The new slogan:
"Just say, know -- know the facts."

Marilyn Morgan, president of the League of Women Voters of
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County, said she and four other people from the
organization met with Johnson on Monday and agreed that there should be a
public debate on drug policy.

The group has been researching drug policy issues for almost three years and
has planned meetings in Las Cruces, Santa Fe and Los Alamos later in the
year to share the information with league organizations in those
communities. The public will be invited to attend those meetings, but no
dates have been scheduled.

Morgan said the Albuquerque-area league did agree to assist Johnson in any
forums he might want to organize but nothing has been worked out.

"This is all in the planning stages. Until we have another meeting, we don't
know what they have in mind," she said.

In addition to planning forums, Johnson is taking to the radio airwaves to
spread his message about drug policy reform.

He appeared on a Los Angeles FM-radio station on Thursday, and on Friday was
on a syndicated radio talk show hosted by former Texas agricultural
commissioner Jim Hightower, a populist Democrat.

One caller to Hightower's show told Johnson that he was "one of those Santa
Fe liberals that absolutely has vehemently opposed about 90 percent of your
policies."

"But I have to tell you that this is something I'm backing you definitely
on," said the caller, identified as Michael. "You're one brave man. My
opinion of you has just shot up because this is not an easy issue to talk
about. I am sure you are getting jumped on radically."