Pubdate: Wed, 26 Jan 2000
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Forum: http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/
Author: The Associated Press
Bookmark: MAP's link to New Mexico articles is: http://www.mapinc.org/states/nm

N.M. GOV. CHASTISED ON DRUG STANCE

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- The New Mexico Senate condemned Gov. Gary Johnson on
Wednesday for supporting the legalization of cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

Senators voted 37 to 4 for the resolution, which was brought to the floor
by Johnson's fellow Republicans in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

The House is considering a similar measure.

Johnson's spokeswoman, Diane Kinderwater, said it was ``a scary thought
that New Mexico senators would advocate not allowing a governor to have
freedom of speech, something this country was founded on.''

Johnson drew strong criticism last year when he first proposed the idea 
of legalizing drugs, with strict controls.

``Control it. Regulate it. Tax it. If we legalize it, we just might have a
better society,'' he said then, arguing that the war on drugs has been a
multibillion-dollar failure.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Eric Ernst