Pubdate: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM) Copyright: 2000 Albuquerque Journal Contact: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103 Website: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Author: Deborah Baker, The Associated Press JOHNSON TO REDOUBLE DRUG EFFORTS SANTA FE - Gov. Gary Johnson on Tuesday said he would redouble his drug-legalization education efforts despite the misgivings of fellow Republicans running for office this year. "It shouldn't be a Republican issue," Johnson said. The governor said voters are smart enough to separate his position on drugs from that of candidates who may disagree with him - whether Republican or Democrat. Legislators "aren't getting beat up like I'm getting beat up," the governor said in an interview. "I don't want to not talk about the issue and have people believe that somehow I'm shying away from my beliefs," the governor said. Polls published last week indicate that "I need to redouble my efforts with regard to what it is that I'm saying. . . . that there is another side to this issue than the one that we've been fed for many, many years," Johnson said. Those polls showed the governor's approval rating fell nearly 20 points in the past year with the public, and nearly 30 points with Republicans. Asked if he thought the drop in GOP support was due to his drug legalization talk, he replied, "Sure." Johnson said he was not surprised that the poll commissioned by the Albuquerque Journal showed so little public support for his proposal to legalize drugs such as marijuana and heroin. Sixty-eight percent of registered voters polled said it was a bad idea. "But what it tells me is that I do have that work to do that I anticipated I would have to do," he said. Johnson had promised GOP lawmakers late last year that he would tone down his drug-legalization advocacy during the legislative session. He said that commitment would extend through the special session that began Tuesday. But prompted by questions from students, Johnson spent much of his time with a youth group on Tuesday defending drug legalization. "Don't do drugs. Don't smoke cigarettes. Don't do tobacco. Don't drink," Johnson told delegates to the YMCA Youth and Government Model Legislature, meeting at the Capitol. But he also gave them this pitch: pass a resolution in support of legalizing drugs. "Fifty-four percent of the graduating class of 2000 will have done illegal drugs," he told the high school students. "Do we want to arrest and incarcerate this country?" A couple of the teen-agers criticized the governor for sending what they said was a mixed message. Since he proposes legalizing drugs, "How can you expect us to take you seriously when you say they're bad?" one boy asked. A girl told Johnson young people would be "extremely confused" hearing his legalization message after getting so much anti-drug education in schools. "What are these kids to think?" she asked him. Johnson said the real mixed message is being sent when anti-drug spokesmen warn young people that marijuana will lead to crime and death, and then those who smoke it discover "it was kind of a mellow experience." "The government should be honest in the message that it's sending," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea