Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM) Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque Journal Contact: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103 Website: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Author: Loie Fecteau JOHNSON VISITS SENATE, HOUSE 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." Johnson, 48, suffered compression fractures to two vertebrae near his shoulder blades when he slipped on ice while running in Santa Fe before dawn on Jan. 17. Johnson, an accomplished triathlete and competitive skier, told reporters the pain from the injury was "terrible." "It really does hurt," he said. "I guess that comes with a broken back." Johnson said he was taking Valium and Percocet for the pain, which he said helps, but "doesn't alleviate it." After visiting briefly with his staff, Johnson went down to the Senate and House floors to chat with lawmakers. "I didn't mean to interrupt the business of the Senate, but if you all would take a few minutes and sign my brace it would be appreciated," Johnson said as he entered the Senate chamber. "Actually, the governor's here lobbying for medical marijuana," quipped Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Dona Ana. Johnson, an outspoken critic of the nation's "war on drugs" has called for decriminalization of minor marijuana possession and says the drug should be available for certain medical treatments, such as nausea relief for cancer patients. Johnson, speaking with reporters, praised the election of Sen. Richard Romero, D-Albuquerque, over Sen. Manny Aragon, D-Albuquerque, for president pro tem of the Senate. "I just think it is very positive and I'm really optimistic," Johnson said. Dee Johnson, who accompanied her husband on his first visit back to the Capitol since his injury, described him as a "terrible" patient. He gets better each day about "accepting the injury," she said, but it was difficult for an active man like Johnson to be bedridden. "He dropped by against my protests on the way back from the doctor," Dee Johnson said of the governor's visit to the Capitol. "This is just to let everyone know that he's still here," she said. "He's still governor. He's still alive." Johnson said he had spent most of the last week in bed. He said he has to wear the brace for about six weeks while he is out of bed. The brace helps hold the vertebrae in proper position while they heal and provides support. Johnson spent part of the 1996 legislative session on crutches after he injured his left knee during a ski race at Red River. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake