N.M. ORGANIZATIONS MAKE DRUG REFORM ALLIANCE

ALBUQUERQUE -- Gov. Gary Johnson's call for drug reform debate last week
motivated several New Mexico organizations to form an alliance to discuss
alternatives to current drug policies.

The New Mexico Alliance for Drug Policy Reform announced Monday that it will
provide a forum for organizations to brainstorm solutions to drug offenses
other than incarceration.

"Instead of spending money on drug prohibition, we need to address the
impact of current drug war policies," said Steven Bunch, president of the
New Mexico Drug Policy Foundation, one of the groups in the alliance.

Alternatives so far include decriminalization, strengthening education
programs and expanding harm-reduction programs such as methadone clinics and
syringe exchange programs.

Alliance members also will act as speakers, forum participants and resources
for information on drugs and drug policy.

The alliance would eventually like to propose its ideas to the governor,
Bunch said. Some alliance members support the decriminalization of
marijuana, while others hope mainly to provide more education.

"But we all agree and recognize that the drug war is causing more harm than
it's actually solving," Bunch said. By creating the alliance, the groups are
not only advocating solutions but are doing so in a forum in which they can
feel secure speaking out, he said.

"Once one verbalizes support for discussing drug reform policies, they are
immediately labeled as someone who supports children who use drugs and
that's not the case," Bunch said, emphasizing that new policies would still
prohibit drug use by children.

Messages were left seeking comment from the governor's office, which was
closed for the national Independence Day observance Monday.

AP-WS-07-06-99 0912EDT