Pubdate: Sat, 16 Oct 1999
Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)
Copyright: 1999 The Albuquerque Tribune
Contact:  http://www.abqtrib.com/
Author: Gilbert Gallegos, Tribune reporter
Note: The sidebar at the end of this article contains the schedule for the
forums. For more information, contact:
Steven T. Bunch, The New Mexico Drug Policy Foundation, P.O. Box 6994,
Albuquerque, NM 87197  Phone: (505) 344 1932  Fax: (505) 344-6716

VOTERS LEAGUE WON'T PARTICIPATE IN DRUG FORUMS

The League of Women Voters says it will not participate in Gov. Gary
Johnson's planned drug forums because there doesn't appear to be any room
for actual debate.

Neither Johnson nor members of his office have even been heard from since
league representatives met with him in July and offered to organize the
debates, said Marilyn Morgan, president of the League of Women Voters of
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County. "We are not participating because the
governor just changed the rules on us," Morgan said. "We agreed to do an
open discussion and dialogue to help facilitate the debate.

But that isn't what the governor's going to do, apparently." On Friday,
Johnson announced he will be a guest speaker at two forums being planned in
Albuquerque by the New Mexico Drug Policy Foundation.

Johnson, a Republican, said Friday in Albuquerque that he wants national
experts to educate New Mexico residents about the failures of the country's
drug policies, and the advantages of legalizing drugs, such as marijuana
and heroin.

Morgan said the league originally supported Johnson's call for an open
dialogue about the issue.

But Johnson has shifted his position since July, from debating drug policy
to making it legal for people to use drugs. He has not, however, advocated
any actual changes in policy.

The League of Women Voters is not endorsing any specific proposal, such as
decriminalization or legalizing drugs.

Steve Bunch, president of the New Mexico Drug Policy Foundation, said there
could still be a future forum that could fit the League of Women Voters'
mission to organize a debate on the issue.

But the two debates Johnson announced, scheduled for November, are meant to
provide accurate information about drug policy, the drug war and how it
affects New Mexico families.

"We're doing this rather than having a debate on drug war vs. alternative
policies," Bunch said. "We realize this format may not fit their (league's)
criteria for a balanced debate. The league has strict criteria . . . but
this is not a policy debate with both sides of the issue.

"But given the lack of information, we felt it was important to provide
information first."

While Johnson said he has no intention of pursuing a new drug policy, he
said he thinks that over time he can sway peoples' opinions that
legalization would result in fewer people using drugs.

"My objective is to find a real solution that will actually reduce drug
abuse in our country," Johnson said.

The two forums are scheduled for Nov. 2 and 16.

Johnson will be a featured speaker at both forums, his spokeswoman Diane
Kinderwater said.

[sidebar]

DRUG FORUMS

Forum 1:

Focuses On The Nation's Drug War

7-9:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 1999 Crown Plaza Pyramid Hotel 5151 San Francisco
Road N.E.

Forum 2:

Panel Discussion On Drug Legalization

7-9:30 p.m. Nov. 16, 1999 Radisson Inn I-40 and Carlisle Boulevard
Northeast
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake