Pubdate: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 1999 Mercury Center Contact: http://www.sjmercury.com/ LEADER CLARIFIES VIEW ON DRUG LEGALIZATION Pressed to clarify his views on legalizing drugs, New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson said Tuesday that he foresees a process that would start with marijuana. ``I don't see legalization of dangerous drugs any time soon,'' Johnson told reporters after speaking for drug legalization at the libertarian Cato Institute in Washington. Johnson, a Republican in his second term, drew strong criticism from anti-drug leaders last week when he became the first sitting governor to advocate legalized narcotics. Johnson said the nation's war on drugs has been a multibillion-dollar failure that throws too many people in prison. - --- MAP posted-by: manemez j lovitto