Pubdate: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM) Copyright: 1999 Albuquerque Journal Contact: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103 Website: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Author: Loie Fecteau, Journal Capitol Bureau Link: Shortcut for articles about the Gov.: http://www.mapinc.org/johnson.htm GOV: CITIZENS SHOULD CALL LEGISLATORS Gov. Gary Johnson may have agreed to temper his push to legalize drugs at least through the upcoming legislative session, but on Sunday he urged others to take up the cause. At a drug forum at the University of New Mexico School of Law in Albuquerque, Johnson told an enthusiastic crowd of about 200 people to call their legislators and tell them the drug issue is important. "Tell your legislator that you do believe that the discussion is worthwhile and, if you believe it, that there are valid points raised to legalization being a valid alternative," said Johnson, who contends the war on drugs has been a miserable failure. "I do know that legislators, when they get three or four phone calls on any given issue, 'The phone is ringing off the wall, and everybody is for X,' '' Johnson said. "So if you can call your legislator, if you can manage 15 phone calls to your legislator, the house is coming down." On Friday, at the urging of fellow Republicans, Johnson agreed to tone down his crusade to legalize drugs at least through the upcoming 30-day legislative session, which begins Jan. 18. The governor said, however, he would honor commitments he had already made to debate the issue, including Sunday's event. Republicans, like Senate Minority Leader L. Skip Vernon, R-Albuquerque, had complained that Johnson's focus on drugs was distracting from other issues, such as cutting taxes and education reform. "I don't want drugs, drug debate, drug discussion to overshadow the upcoming legislative session," Johnson said in an interview Sunday. "I do agree with Skip (Vernon) that we need to focus on the legislative session." However, Johnson said he may propose legislation in the upcoming session that would allow methadone users to get their fixes from pharmacies instead of having to go to a clinic. "I'm seeing if I can propose a bill or maybe we do it through regulation," Johnson said. Johnson said he was disappointed that U.S. Attorney John Kelly, who opposes drug legalization, did not take part in Sunday's drug forum as originally scheduled. UNM law professor Rob Schwartz, who moderated the forum, said Kelly "just couldn't make it." Kelly could not be reached for comment Sunday. Kelly's absence meant the panel was rather one-sided with only Albuquerque psychologist Mary Loescher speaking against legalizing drugs. The other panelists were state Health Secretary Alex Valdez and public health advocate Carol Miller of Ojo Sarco. Miller, who ran for Congress last year as a Green Party candidate in New Mexico's 3rd District, praised Johnson for being so outspoken on the drug issue. "He had the audacity to come out publicly in support of something without doing 10 polls first," Miller said. "He's doing something he believes in, and I think that's incredible." Miller said she believes a holistic approach is needed to deal with drug abuse. She said most people with serious drug or alcohol addictions also have some kind of mental health problem. "The money that we spend on this hopeless, sad war on the poor could go for education. It could go for universal health care," Miller said. Loescher said she disagrees with Johnson that legalizing drugs would lead to a reduction in drug use. Johnson contends drug use would be reduced if drugs were legalized because they would be strictly regulated and controlled by the government. "Government control (of drugs) does not reduce crime," Loescher said. "Government-controlled doses assists people in keeping their addictions. ... A drug addict is more likely to act impulsively and violently, and it does not matter where he got his drugs." Loescher noted that countries like Great Britain and Holland, which have legalized certain drugs, have much more homogeneous cultures than the United States or New Mexico. "To assume the same programs will work in New Mexico is very naive to say the least," she said. However, Loescher agreed with Johnson and the other panelists that more drug-treatment programs are needed. "In our state, we are sadly short of treatment facilities," Loescher said. Valdez said he agrees with Johnson that the war on drugs has failed and that money spent on enforcement should be redirected to drug treatment and education programs. "When we look at our rates of addiction, when we look at the rates of use, we know our 'Just Say No,' has been a failure," Valdez said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake