John Sanchez, the Republican nominee for governor, has come under scrutiny for statements he has made about whether he ever used drugs. The point here isn't whether Sanchez ever experimented with marijuana, but rather if he has been consistent in his answers when asked about any drug use, past or present. From here on, pay particular attention to the word "adult." A recent story by Barry Massey of The Associated Press noted that Sanchez said on a KKOB-AM talk show in May that he had not used illegal drugs. Sanchez, along with Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley and Rep. Rob Burpo, R-Albuquerque, were asked in the radio interview, "Have you guys done drugs?" [continues 715 words]
SANTA FE - Gov. Gary Johnson on Friday signed into law several drug reform bills, which he called "steps in reducing the harm caused by the failed war on drugs." "These will make a difference in the lives of New Mexicans," said Johnson, who has gained national attention for his crusade to reform drug laws. "I think this legislation will result in less death, disease and crime." The measures signed by Johnson: * Grant judges more discretion in sentencing nonviolent habitual offenders. Sponsored by Rep. Ken Martinez, D-Grants, it takes effect July 1. [continues 300 words]
Gov. In Tv Debate With Ex-policy Chief Gov. Gary Johnson went head-to-head with former U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey on the nation's drug war on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, with McCaffrey mocking Johnson's "facts" on the issue. "Everybody is entitled to their own opinions, and I certainly respect the governor for forcefully expressing his," McCaffrey said. "You're not entitled to your own facts." McCaffrey told moderator Tim Russert he had contacted Johnson's office to see where the governor got his information about drug law reform. [continues 552 words]
Gov. Gary Johnson leaves today on a two-week trip, in part to tout his views on drug reform at Harvard Medical School, Florida State University and to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press." Johnson's planned travels to beat the drum on drug law reform drew immediate criticism Tuesday from House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe, and a Republican lawmaker. Lujan said Johnson should take an "unpaid leave of absence" as the state's chief executive while on his national drug reform crusade. [continues 409 words]
SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson took on former U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey on national television Wednesday, with McCaffrey blasting Johnson for "irresponsible thinking" in pushing drug law reform. Johnson and McCaffrey sparred over the nation's war on drugs on CNN's Inside Politics program. Johnson was filmed at the Capitol, where he had difficulty hearing some of McCaffrey's statements because of technical problems. During an October 1999 visit to Albuquerque, not long after Johnson began his national campaign to change drug laws, McCaffrey had mockingly referred to Johnson as "Puff Daddy Johnson." [continues 304 words]
SANTA FE -- Republican House members moved Tuesday to distance themselves from comments made by their state party chairman in support of proposed drug law reform. At least a half-dozen of the 28 House Republicans also sided with Democratic House members in criticizing GOP Chairman John Dendahl for calling House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe, a "thug enforcer" in a recent state Republican Party news release. "Mr. Speaker, Mr. Dendahl does not speak for us. He never has," House Minority Whip Earlene Roberts, R-Lovington, told Lujan on the House floor. "We as a group do not support what Mr. Dendahl said about drugs." [continues 445 words]
SANTA FE -- Sen. Pete Domenici said Wednesday that New Mexico Republican Party chairman John Dendahl went "across the line" in his advocacy of drug law reform and should resign. "I don't think he should be chairman anymore," said Domenici, who is the state's most prominent Republican and its senior senator. "I have told him that in plain English," Domenici said in an interview from Washington. "He should step down." Domenici said he "strongly disagrees" with Dendahl's support of Gov. Gary Johnson's eight-bill drug-reform package pending before the state Legislature. The package includes proposals to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, reduce penalties for possessing some other drugs and legalize marijuana for medical purposes. [continues 622 words]
SANTA FE - Gov. Gary Johnson, recovering from a fall on the ice while running last week, got his new back brace signed by lawmakers Wednesday when he paid surprise visits to the House and Senate floors. Johnson, who called his injury a broken back, dropped by the Capitol for a couple of hours on his way home from a morning visit to his doctor. He said he hoped to begin easing back into his regular work schedule. "I hope to get back a little bit more each day," said Johnson, who was dressed in jeans and cowboy boots and wore his plastic brace over a white T-shirt. "I'll play that by ear." [continues 392 words]
SANTA FE - Republican Gov. Gary Johnson will stress his hope for cooperation with the Democrat-controlled Legislature when he delivers his annual State of the State address today. "He's going to be talking about 'a new beginning,' '' said Dave Miller, the governor's legislative liaison. "He's still very encouraged." The state's 112 legislators will have a full agenda as they gather at the Roundhouse for the start of their 60-day session, which is wide open in terms of topics that can be considered. [continues 640 words]
SANTA FE -- Republican Gov. Gary Johnson says if he could hand-pick his successor as New Mexico's chief executive, he would choose state GOP chairman John Dendahl over Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley. "In a second, I would hand pick John Dendahl," Johnson said Tuesday at a news conference. However, Johnson also said Bradley would make "a great governor" and would receive his support. Dendahl was among several Republicans who sought the GOP nomination for governor in 1994. Johnson won the nomination and went on to defeat Gov. Bruce King, a Democrat, and Green Party nominee Roberto Mondragon. [continues 359 words]
An unconventional vice presidential candidate was in New Mexico on Tuesday to woo voters - and to meet with an unconventional governor. Natural Law Party vice presidential nominee Nat Goldhaber met privately on Tuesday with Republican Gov. Gary Johnson in Albuquerque. Goldhaber, the running mate of presidential candidate John Hagelin, also spoke at the New Mexico Native American 2000 Election Forum at Isleta Pueblo. Goldhaber said he wanted to meet Johnson because of the governor's controversial national push to legalize marijuana and to change other drug laws. [continues 214 words]
Gov. Gary Johnson's popularity has rebounded some, but it's still not as high as it was before he launched a national push to legalize marijuana and change other drug laws, a Journal poll found. "Johnson's favorability rating is back up above his unfavorability rating," said Brian Sanderoff of Research and Polling Inc., which conducted the poll. "The bad news for the governor is less than half of the registered voters in New Mexico approve of his job performance," Sanderoff said. [continues 595 words]
Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader is expected to call today for a new strategy to combat drug abuse, emphasizing treatment over jail for nonviolent offenders. The famous consumer advocate is to be joined by Republican Gov. Gary Johnson at a news conference in Santa Fe, where Nader will criticize the federal government's war on drugs "as a colossal failure," the Nader campaign staff confirmed Thursday. Johnson has received national attention for calling for the legalization of marijuana and other drug law changes. He has suggested the billions of dollars spent on incarceration and law enforcement in the drug war should instead go toward treatment and education programs to reduce drug use. [continues 747 words]
State Democratic Party chairwoman Diane Denish said Monday that Republican Gov. Gary Johnson should resign for glorifying cocaine use. "It's time for somebody to say he ought to quit being governor," Denish said in an interview. "He's obviously just using the platform of his office to promote all this drug stuff." Johnson's office said he has no intention of resigning. "Rather than resign, he's going to redouble his efforts, including the message, 'Don't do drugs. They're a bad choice,' '' said Dave Miller, Johnson's legislative liaison. [continues 456 words]
SANTA FE — Gov. Gary Johnson is back on the national stage today in Philadelphia to promote a pet cause — the legalization of marijuana and reform of drug laws. Johnson, along with the Rev. Jesse Jackson and rap star Chuck D of Public Enemy, is to be a featured speaker at a so-called "shadow" convention. The shadow convention, running simultaneously with the Republican National Convention, is designed to focus attention on issues the major political parties won't touch, organizers said. Those issues include drug law reform and campaign finance reform. [continues 386 words]
SANTA FE -- New Mexico could save millions of dollars by requiring drug offenders to go into treatment programs instead of jail, an assistant public defender told lawmakers Friday. "Changing the law and requiring mandatory treatment will reduce the prison population, save the state of New Mexico money and reduce crime," said Jacqueline Cooper, who manages the drug court diversion program in the Public Defender's Office in Bernalillo County. "We need to treat drug offenders for what they are," Cooper told the Legislature's interim Courts and Criminal Justice Committee. "They are addicts. They are sick people with a chronic illness. They are the mentally ill with substance abuse problems." [continues 363 words]
Health Secretary Alex Valdez said Monday he thinks New Mexico should repeal its medical marijuana law and replace it with one modeled on Hawaii's new program. "It's an ineffective piece of legislation for all intents and purposes, which should be repealed," Valdez told fellow members of the newly appointed Governor's Drug Policy Advisory Group. "However, something should be put in its place to reduce the pain and suffering that many people in this state are going through," Valdez said. [continues 689 words]
SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson has something in common with Warren Beatty, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and John McCain. All are scheduled to be featured speakers at so-called "shadow" conventions July 30 through Aug. 4 during the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and Aug. 13 through 17 during the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Johnson said he was invited to speak at the shadow conventions by syndicated columnist and author Arianna Huffington because of his national push to legalize marijuana and change other drug laws. Huffington, a vocal drug war opponent, is one of the hosts of the shadow conventions, along with Common Cause, the Lindesmith Center and other activist groups. [continues 394 words]
SANTA FE - Gov. Gary Johnson has formed an advisory group to develop drug policies in New Mexico in line with his national push to legalize marijuana and change other drug laws. The nine-member group is charged with developing so-called "harm reduction" policies in New Mexico for harder drugs, such as heroin, said Dave Miller, Johnson's legislative liaison. The policies would include treatment and prevention programs, needle exchanges, increased education, government-run clinics to dispense drugs to addicts and methadone prescription programs, Miller said. Miller is working with the panel, chaired by retired state District Judge W.C. "Woody" Smith of Albuquerque. [continues 442 words]
SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson said Tuesday he intends to keep pushing for the legalization of marijuana after he leaves office in 21/2 years. "This is really coming from my heart," Johnson told a University of New Mexico senior history seminar studying the nation's drug wars. "This is one of those topics that you could dedicate your life to, hoping that it could make a positive difference for all mankind. So I hope to stay involved." However, Johnson said in an interview afterward that he does not know how he will stay involved in the fight to legalize drugs after he leaves office at the end of 2002. [continues 384 words]
