Pubdate: Sun,  2 Jul 2000
Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)
Copyright: 2000 The Albuquerque Tribune.
Contact:  http://www.abqtrib.com/
Author: Gilbert Gallegos

GOVERNOR'S NEW GROUP AGREES WAR ON DRUGS ISN'T WORKING

SANTA FE - After a year of criticizing the nation's war on drugs, Gov. Gary 
Johnson said it is time to start considering new drug policies in New Mexico.

Johnson has created a new Drug Policy Advisory Group, made up mainly of New 
Mexico leaders, to study and recommend drug strategies he can enact or take 
to the Legislature to consider when it meets in January.

Johnson said he isn't expecting the group to back his stance on legalizing 
marijuana -- a position that has put the Republican governor in the 
national spotlight but alienated him from many people who do not agree with 
his stance on the issue.

"But hey, let's try and get to some bottom-line results," Johnson said, 
referring to what he calls a "harm-reduction" strategy of limiting the 
damages that result from drug-abuse.

The advisory group, headed by retired state District Court Judge Woody 
Smith, will explore a number of issues surrounding the drug debate. The 
group met for the first time last week.

Smith said Thursday that every member of the group agreed immediately on at 
least one thing: The war on drugs and its associated slogans like "Just Say 
No" are not working.

"I think our goal is to try to make something better out of a bad 
situation," Smith said. "That's how I look at it.

"We all know how much money we're spending, the resources we're wasting on 
the war on drugs. Maybe we'll find some suggestion for legislation that, in 
the end, will make it better."

Johnson kicked off the group's brainstorming by providing a list of issues 
for consideration:
"Can we actually, in New Mexico, perhaps point to fewer overdose deaths?"
"Can we point to less disease being spread by intravenous drug use? I'm 
talking about AIDS, Hepatitis C."
"Can we statistically look at less driving accidents under the influence of 
drugs and alcohol?"
"Can we point, years from now, to less people being incarcerated for 
nonviolent drug offenses?"
"Can we look to be spending more on rehabilitation for those who want it 
than what we are today with similar decreases on prison spending?"

In an interview Thursday, Johnson said his bottom-line question for the 
advisory group is: "Can we point to less harm done by illegal drugs in our 
society?"

Mayor Jim Baca, a member of the group, said he will keep an open mind as he 
studies and considers alternatives to current drug policies that focus on 
stiff penalties for drug-related crimes.

"I'm going to participate as much as I can," Baca said. "I think it's good 
to get into a logical debate about it. I really don't know what we'll come 
up with. All I know is, things don't work now and something different has 
to be done."
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