Pubdate: Sat, 09 Sep 2000
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company
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Section: Politics

NADER ENDORSES LEGAL MARIJUANA

SANTA FE, N.M., Sept. 8 (AP) - Ralph Nader, the Green Party presidential 
nominee, spoke out today for the legalization of marijuana as part of an 
overhaul of the nation's "self-defeating and antiquated drug laws."

Mr. Nader joined Gov. Gary E. Johnson of New Mexico, a Republican, in 
criticizing the war on drugs as a failed policy for fighting drug use.

"Addiction should never be treated as a crime," Mr. Nader said at a news 
conference. "It has to be treated as a health problem."

"We do not send alcoholics to jail in this country," he said. "Over 500,000 
people are in our jails who are nonviolent drug users."

Mr. Nader, like Governor Johnson, supports lifting criminal sanctions for 
marijuana possession. For other drugs, like heroin, he advocated programs 
like methadone maintenance and needle exchanges that focus on treatment of 
addiction and prevention of health problems from drug use.
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