Pubdate: Tue, 01 Aug 2000
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2000 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103
Website: http://www.abqjournal.com/
Author: Loie Fecteau
Bookmark: additional articles on Gov. Gary Johnson are available at 
http://www.mapinc.org/johnson.htm

JOHNSON AIRS VIEWS ON DRUGS

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.

Johnson is scheduled to give a 20-minute speech on drug policies beginning 
at 8:40 a.m. MDT. Johnson's speech and other shadow convention activities 
are to be simulcast on the Internet at www.shadowconventions.com.

Johnson also has agreed to speak Aug. 15 at the shadow convention being 
held in Los Angeles during the Democratic National Convention. While in Los 
Angeles, Johnson is to tape an episode on drug reform for ABC television's 
"Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher."

Johnson is featured prominently in the August issue of Penthouse magazine 
in a story that calls for the legalization of marijuana. The article lauds 
Johnson "as a mind-blowing anomaly — a politician who tells the truth, 
consequences be damned."

Rep. Ron Godbey, R-Albuquerque, a vocal critic of Johnson's views on drugs, 
on Monday called Johnson's appearance in the sexually explicit magazine 
"degrading."

"People in politics, people in public life, should not be featured 
prominently in trashy magazines like Penthouse," Godbey said. "It degrades 
the governor and the office of the governor."

Dave Miller, Johnson's legislative liaison, said Johnson sees the shadow 
conventions and national magazine articles as ways to reach millions of 
people about his views on drugs.

Johnson has been featured on "60 Minutes." He recently gave interviews to 
Playboy magazine and to a writer from the Sunday New York Times Magazine, 
Miller said. Those articles are expected to run sometime this fall during 
the election season, he said.

"Whether it's '60 Minutes' or the New York Times Sunday Magazine, which has 
a circulation of 7.1 million, Penthouse, Playboy and other publications 
with large circulations are worthwhile outlets with large readerships," 
Miller said. "It's part of Gary's high-risk, high-reward strategy. Sure, to 
some it may be high-risk to appear in a publication like Penthouse, but the 
governor sees a high reward in terms of readership and political buzz."

Johnson also is attending the Republican National Convention this week in 
Philadelphia, but he is not scheduled to speak, Miller said. Johnson is 
scheduled to attend receptions with other Republican leaders today for 
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and for Nancy Reagan, who 
launched the "Just Say No" campaign against drugs while her husband was 
president, Miller said.
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