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| Drug-Law Reform Spotlight Fading into Past |
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Posted by FoM on April 21, 2002 at 11:10:08 PT By Jonathan McDonald, The New Mexican Source: Santa Fe New Mexican 
When Gov. Gary Johnson leaves office at the end of the year, the chances for drug-law reform in New Mexico may go with him. Gubernatorial candidates from both major parties say they are opposed to the platform of drug reforms backed by the current governor and would likely veto any drug decriminalization bills passed by the state Legislature during their potential administrations. The only Democrat on the ballot, Bill Richardson, said he is "flatly opposed" to the legalization of drugs. "The crusade for drug reform is not on my priority list at all," he said. The drug-reform pendulum has swung so sharply that one gubernatorial candidate, state Rep. Rob Burpo, R-Albuquerque, said he will impose mandatory drug-testing on himself and his Cabinet, if elected. In 2001, Burpo unsuccessfully pushed a bill in the state Legislature to require random drug testing of state lawmakers. "People ought to have faith that the people making laws and signing bills into law are doing it with a clear head," Burpo said. At least one of Burpo's primary opponents, Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley, is on record supporting drug-tests for public officials. Burpo said his comments about mandatory drug-testing of his Cabinet were not a swipe at Johnson, who has admitted he has used marijuana and cocaine. Richardson said "too much attention has been paid to the legalization-of-drugs issue." He said New Mexico's focus should be on education, health care and jobs, but indicated he would support more treatment options for drug addicts. The Democratic candidate also said he would consider supporting the use of medical marijuana if scientific evidence convinced him of its value. The question of medical marijuana is where Richardson and the Republican candidates most obviously split. While Richardson left the door open for possibly supporting medical cannabis, the Republican candidates say they wouldn't back such a reform. Burpo and Rep. John Sanchez, R-Albuquerque, both said prescription medicine is available that allows patients to use marijuana's active chemicals without having to smoke the drug. Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley said he views legalizing medical marijuana as a federal issue and wouldn't support a state law allowing the use of pot for health reasons. "I would not want to authorize something that would put New Mexicans in jeopardy of violating federal law," Bradley said. Dave Miller, Johnson's legislative liaison, said it's easy for politicians running for office to say they are against major reforms to the state's drug laws, but when one of them wins the election, the individual will face a situation that mandates change. "Whomever is the next governor, they're going to have full prisons and a high rate of infectious disease" among intravenous drug users, Miller said. "The last time I checked, the Democrats are not real big on building prisons." Miller said the state has 13,000 heroin addicts. Thirty-five percent of hepatitis and AIDS infections are caused by drug users sharing dirty needles. And between 10 percent and 20 percent of the state prison population is behind bars for drug possession or on trafficking charges, he said. The situation mandates reform, Miller argued. And he predicted that when Johnson leaves office - and no longer provides a lightning rod for opposition to drug reforms - New Mexico's drug policy will be changed. Johnson, who has been in the national spotlight for his support of drug reforms, won't leave the cause when he leaves office, Miller said. Miller didn't have any specifics, but said he was "confident (Johnson) will find a role immediately after leaving office, providing voice and leadership on the national level" to the drug-reform movement. Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM) Related Articles: Drug Legalization Bad for State Says Sandel Governor Defends Drug Legalization Johnson Hints That Drug Reform Will Be Career Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #8 posted by goneposthole on April 21, 2002 at 18:26:06 PT |
| "People ought to have faith that the people makng the laws and signing bills into law are doing it with a clear head."-Rep. Bob Burpo Corporate lobbyists make damn sure that does not happen. Nothing is as it seems, mind control at work. How easy it is to make one feel he is not being duped, taking advantage of his dim wits; wining and dining, making everybody feel groovy and good, and then, bam, in for the kill, you got what you want. The Americans are suspicious and skeptical, walking away empty-handed is getting old. Nobody wants to be a 'sheeple'. Wait until they find out they are being sheparded not by shepards, but wolves in sheep's clothing. "What am I gonna do?" Bleat, bleat The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 has obviously dealt a serious blow to individual rights and has raised a human right's issue. When it is repealed, those who chose to play along with the charade need to be held accountable. I don't know how, but not with the human touch the antis have given the cannabis connosieur. An entity separate from any kind of governmental influence is what is needed to intervene. The entity is maybe people quietly, patiently working hard to help end the insanity. The goal is not to beseech the federal government to help with the legalization process; that apparently is impossible, but to peacefully disband it as it now is and how it conducts itself. It is an easier goal to accomplish, and, actually, a more important one. At this point in the game it is becoming clear, with a clear head and even a foggy mind, losing is now the name of the game. To have all of these wars and the rest of the world angered merely because you are American, clearly is not making anybody a winner. How can you have a clear head when you are forced to live in the dungeon of your Ivory Tower? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by qqqq on April 21, 2002 at 15:14:19 PT |
| ,,to realize,,all the Democrat and Republican Sheeple who think they belong to different "parties"...The difference between a Republican,and a Democrat,,is like the difference between a Pontiac,and a Buick.,, ,or ,like the difference between a Butt,and an Ass,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a turd and a piece of shit [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by Lehder on April 21, 2002 at 15:03:45 PT |
| my accurately computed taxes to New Mexico this year, as well as to the federal government, amounted to $0.00. Yup, I want better service and better representation. Meanwhile, they can just keep collecting from those barmaids in the museum. Adios, pistas de la mierda. 'Carlos' [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by Lehder on April 21, 2002 at 14:47:55 PT |
| Bill Richardson: A cursory look shows that most of his campaign money comes from the oil industry, banks and pharmaceuticals. And the source for more than two thirds of this money comes from outside the State of New Mexico. Who the hell does he represent? He defeats his political opponents by spending an order of magnitude more money on the campaigns. http://www.opensecrets.org/1994os/osdata/richabil.pdf New Mexico has a rough time collecting taxes and last time I read about the problem some 40,000 businesses were delinquent. Individuals who send in a tax form but not a check will receive a friendly letter after several months or a year asking for the money and asking if they agree with the charge. The letter typically says that if the money is paid then no penalty will be levied. Any way you look at it, New Mexicans seem not to have much money or are not happy with the service they are getting from government. And the state is practically bankrupt, despite the newly implemented sale of alcohol in public museums in case you need a few drinks while looking at all those clay pots. Maybe Richardson should try raising campaign money in his own state. Or maybe the self-piss-tester Bob Burpo will right the world. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by Patrick on April 21, 2002 at 13:07:26 PT |
| "People ought to have faith that the people making laws and signing bills into law are doing it with a clear head," Key words: ought to As soon as no one gets locked up for cannabis anymore, I will have the faith that clear heads prevail. Until then, government will remain, in my opinion, occupied by more foggy headed morons than I care to imagine no matter what's in their piss. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by p4me on April 21, 2002 at 13:02:39 PT |
| The Cnews choir is well familiar with Dr. Russo and the website he put put up for the IACM. They answer a different question every two weeks and if the link copied to Cnews works you are welcome to read the answers by an association of medical experts concerned with the true medical uses of cannabis. I do not debate whether medical cannabis has medical value. Spend thirty minutes at this website and if you still think marijuana has NO medical value, then argue with a stop sign. You are too crazy for me. I think they should lock you up. From the IACM website IACM Bulletin The IACM bulletin is the newsletter of the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine. It is distributed by e-mail on a bi-weekly base. You can read the current issues here at the IACM website. The IACM bulletins from 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2001 can be downloaded in our Download Archive. You may subscribe online here. Frequently asked questions Every two weeks one more question will be answered here. International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) Arnimstrasse 1A 50825 Cologne Germany Phone: +49-221-9543 9229 Fax: +49-221-1300591 E-mail: info@cannabis-med.org International Association for Cannabis as Medicine The International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) was founded in March 2000. It is a scientific society advocating the improvement of the legal situation for the use of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.) and its pharmacologically most important active compounds, the cannabinoids, for therapeutic applications through promotion of research and dissemination of information. Cannabis and the Cannabinoids Cannabis preparations have been used as remedies for thousands of years. The active ingredients of the hemp plant can currently also be put to use in a multitude of severe medical conditions. However, the potential medical applications of natural cannabis products or individual pharmacologically active ingredients are considerably restricted by existing laws and decrees. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by MikeEEEEE on April 21, 2002 at 11:56:54 PT |
| These politicians have forgotten something, the people of New Mexico tasted the idea of freedom. That's something no demoratt or republishit could ever stop.
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| Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on April 21, 2002 at 11:25:40 PT |
| The only Democrat on the ballot, Bill Richardson, said he is "flatly opposed" to the legalization of drugs. "The crusade for drug reform is not on my priority list at all," he said. And I've stopped donating to NARAL and NOW along with the DNC, you butthole. And nobody is going to convince me that keeping oil drilling out of Alaska is a bigger human emergency than getting nonviolent drug offenders out of prison. The Democratic Party is self-destructing in the legacy of amorality and hypocrisy left by Clinton and Gore. [ Post Comment ] |
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