NATIONAL DRUG CZAR PAYS VISIT TO GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

The last time a top-level federal drug official came to New Mexico, it was
to debate then-Gov. Gary Johnson about legalizing marijuana.

But when John Walters, the director of National Drug Control Policy came to
the governor's office Wednesday, it was "a symbolic meeting to show we
support the director's mission," the new governor, Bill Richardson, said
Wednesday.

Despite his general support of Waters' policies, Richardson said, he
remains open to a "medical marijuana" bill that would legalize marijuana to
treat symptoms of certain serious medical conditions.

However, when asked about details of what he would look for in such a bill,
Richardson said medical marijuana "is not a major concern of mine."

No medical-marijuana bill has been introduced in the Legislature so far
this year, though a spokeswoman for the New Mexico Drug Policy Project said
such legislation is in the works.

"It should not be viewed that this is going to be a back-door attempt to
legalize marijuana," Richardson said of the medical-marijuana issue.

"The main message is that this governor is against legalizing drugs,"
Richardson said.

He said he welcomed Walters to New Mexico and was glad to have the
opportunity to tell the drug czar that "we are not working at cross purposes."

Richardson said he and Walters are trying to get more money for
drug-rehabilitation programs in the state.

Richardson reiterated his campaign rhetoric about not wanting to build more
prisons but hoping to build more treatment centers.

However, he said he would not support another bill touted by drug reformers
that would mandate treatment instead of prison for first- and second-time
nonviolent drug offenders. "I'm not ready to take that step," he said.

Unlike Johnson - who frequently called the War on Drugs a failure -
Richardson said, "I believe there has been progress. It's an intractable
problem. It's very hard to lick it. We need strong law enforcement and more
treatment."

Johnson, who left office Dec. 31, turned into something of a national
spokesman for the drug-reform movement, frequently appearing on national
television to advocate liberalizing drug laws.

A frequent sparring partner was Drug Enforcement Agency chief Asa
Hutchison, who came to Albuquerque for a public debate with Johnson in
September 2001.