Pubdate: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM) Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque Journal Contact: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10 Author: Loie Fecteau Bookmark: Governor Gary Johnson http://www.mapinc.org/johnson.htm GOVERNOR'S DRUG VIEWS GO ON TOUR 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. "I don't think the majority of people in New Mexico support this," Lujan said. "I know the majority of lawmakers don't." Rep. Ron Godbey, R-Albuquerque, a vocal critic of Johnson's national drug reform push, called his upcoming trip "absolutely inappropriate." "It's unfortunate that our governor chooses to leave the state of New Mexico and tout the legalization of drugs when clearly there are so many issues that need to be worked on in our state, including education reform," Godbey said. "The governor should not be spending taxpayers' money so that he can address an agenda that is personal to him." The bulk of the Johnsons' trip is being paid by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Florida State and Harvard, which invited him to speak, said Diane Kinderwater, Johnson's press secretary. "The state (New Mexico) will be paying for his security (detail) because as governor he needs security," said Kinderwater, who did not provide a breakdown of taxpayer' costs on Tuesday. Johnson is scheduled April 19 to headline an annual conference in Washington, D.C., sponsored by NORML. "Governor Johnson is the highest-ranking elected official to address a NORML conference -- and he's a Republican to boot," said Nick Thimmesch, NORML spokesman. While in Washington, D.C., Johnson is scheduled to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" on April 22 and to receive a national leadership award from AIDS Action, a national advocacy group, on April 23. Johnson returns to New Mexico on April 24. Johnson and his wife, Dee, hope to schedule a meeting with President Bush while in the nation's capital. "We haven't seen George since he got elected so we're trying to get in to see him," Dee Johnson said in a recent interview. Dee Johnson noted the Johnsons were unable to attend Bush's inauguration as president in January because the governor had injured his back when he fell on ice while running. Johnson's other out-of-state speaking engagements include: * A talk Thursday at Florida State University in Tallahassee on "Freedom and Drug Policy in America." Johnson's appearance is sponsored by Florida State's School of Criminology and other departments and paid for by the John Templeton Foundation Freedom Project, school officials said Tuesday. * On Tuesday, speaking on drug reform at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Mass., to be paid for by Harvard. - --- MAP posted-by: Kirk Bauer