cannabisnews.com: Johnson Forms Drug-Reform Group Johnson Forms Drug-Reform Group Posted by CN Staff on June 13, 2002 at 13:41:35 PT By Steve Terrell, The New Mexican Source: Santa Fe New Mexican Gov. Gary Johnson and a group of his closest advisors have taken the first steps to set up a new national organization to support the liberalization of drug laws.Johnson said he formed Americans Against the War on Drugs as a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating elected officials and candidates for office about drug-law reform. Johnson plans to become a spokesman for the new group after he leaves office in January. "Groups like NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and the Drug Policy Alliance do a great job," Johnson said Wednesday. "But the one gap I see, the missing link, if you will, is reaching the policy makers.""Many leaders won't schedule meetings with NORML," Johnson said. However, he hopes politicians who are scared off by such groups might be willing to talk with a former governor.Johnson said the focus will be on reaching incumbent or candidates for major office such as a governor, U.S. senator or U.S. representative in hopes of finding support for changing drug laws.The organization will launch a Web site later this year, Johnson said. "We'll be doing some direct mail to try to raise some money for it," he said.Johnson's supporters filed incorporation papers for Americans Against the War on Drugs with the state Public Regulation Commission last month.Officers and directors for the organization include Harold Field, Johnson's finance secretary; Kelly Ward, superintendant of the state Regulation and Licensing Department; and Jurgen Haver, a marketing consultant and longtime Johnson advisor.Ward, who is listed as president of the organization, said Wednesday that AAWOD currently is "a virtual organization.""The real work," he said, "will begin in January, when the governor leaves office."He said he hopes that once the organization is off the ground, it can turn into a full-time job.Ward said an Albuquerque marketing-consultant firm called Promotion Dynamics is setting up the AAWOD Web site and writing a business plan for the group."I think the governor's organization will be a really nice compliment to what we're doing." said Katharyn Huffman, director of the New Mexico Drug Policy Project. Huffman's group is associated with the Drug policy Alliance, formerly known as the Lindesmith Center."There are a lot of organizations." Huffman said. "Some are focused on drug-law reform. Some deal mainly with civil liberties, some with health or social issues. There's a lot of work to be done."Of Johnson, she said. "With his political background, he'll be a great spokesman for drug reform."For the last three years, Johnson has been a nationally recognized voice for softening drug laws. He is a frequent guest on national television news and talk shows, discussing his opposition to the drug war, and has been interviewed in several national publications on the issue.Johnson frequently has stated his belief that the national, state and local focus on arresting drug users is a waste of police and court time and prison resources. He has said drug addiction should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal matter.Opponents argue that liberalizing drug laws would result in more drug use, especially among minors.The state Legislature during the past two sessions has adopted some of Johnson's less-contriversial drug proposals, such as allowing pharmacists to distribute clean hypodermic neeedles to addicts and making it more difficult for police and prosecutors to seize property from alledged drug dealers.However, lawmakers have given the cold shoulder to other proposals, such as allowing certain seriously ill medical patients to smoke marijuana.Note: Americans Against the War on Drugs will work to educate elected officials about efforts to reform drug laws.Newshawk: MorganSource: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM)Author: Steve Terrell, The New MexicanPublished: June 13, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Santa Fe New MexicanContact: letters sfnewmexican.comWebsite: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/AAWODhttp://www.aawod.org/Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/What's He Smokin'?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12937.shtmlDrug War Mutineerhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12934.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #13 posted by StickyResins on June 14, 2002 at 08:26:32 PT Bill Maher Should Have ahd More Facts Together Like when that lady was saying that people smoke pot and then go out and kill people?!? What? Bill should have mentioned that over 50% of murders in this country are alcohol related... I also think that Bill should have mentioned the many uses of cannabis. i think that we need to get the people see cannabis as a useful herb..one to make fuel, paper, food etc...not a drug. if more people saw things this way then maybe things could change [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by dddd on June 14, 2002 at 00:59:13 PT ..just saw PI .. ..yes ..BGreen ,,I agree,Gene Simmons is an ASS!,,and he is alot like the Nooge.....On PI,,Simmons proved himself to be a freak!,,and it's strangely disgusting to think of him pretending to be a freak when he was all dressed up in KISS. Gary Johnson is really good....He gives us much needed hope...dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Nuevo Mexican on June 14, 2002 at 00:40:41 PT More Barrie Zwickart... That was just one part of a six part series. Not sure how to order it yet. And heres' more interviews with him on 911: http://www.9112001.net/ Alex Jones and Michael Ruppert too! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Nuevo Mexican on June 14, 2002 at 00:34:00 PT Sorry I missed my main man! Funny how it was a Capricorn who started the war on drugs, Tricky Dicky, and a Capricorn who ended the war on drugs, Gary Johnson, on Aug 11th, 1999! (He, Al Gordiano and FOM will get the credit)The day of the Great Grand Cross, the most potent augery for change the stars can muster! And I would say things have changed completely! Now Johnson is looked at as a common sense, non-bush kind of guy, instead of a 'legalizer'. I spoke to our Green Pary Candidate for county commisioner tonight and he wants me to bring up the legalizing issue at the next Q and A. And alot of people at the Peace Action meeting tonight (regarding the 911 coverup), which was inspiring, mentioned Johnsons new drug Reform group so it got lots of coverage in the media here. People are waking up, and if everyone organizes small, local teach-in affairs, the groundswell will continue to become an avalanche! I saw it tonight as we (around 50 people) watched an excellent video by Canadian journalist Barri Swickert.You can watch it now if you go to: http://www.attackonamerica.net/ Go to 'Selected Media on the right and click on 'Canadian TV breaks 911 story (scroll down slightly) I highly recommend it as it is awesome!Articulate, well-edited, easy to understand and comprehensive! It will convince your bush voting mother that he knew, hell, they all knew! Watch 'the bush' reading to grade schoolers AFTER he watched the first plane crash, (there was supposedly no video at that time, how could he have seen it? look at his facial expression and you WILL know he knew! Everybody, this is a must see! Finally Go Gary Go, you make Democrats look like they love prohibition, now it is up to them to stand up to prohibition or lay back down with all fours in the air! Assume the position Dems or show us you have Johnsons' backbone! (They could use his whole triathelete body in my opinion, look at the alternative, Bill, frye bread/nuke lover, Richardson! Nothing some Hatch green chilis can't cure! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by BGreen on June 13, 2002 at 23:49:34 PT Not really I find it sad and disgusting! It is, however, his life.Now, he needs to leave ME alone! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Industrial Strength on June 13, 2002 at 23:46:08 PT promiscuity So you believe that "having sex with everything that moves" is immoral? Gene may not have done any drugs, but apparantly he has suffered a brain hemorrage or something similar. Perhaps he is just that...unfortunate. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by BGreen on June 13, 2002 at 23:43:39 PT A slut and a whore Gene Simmons whored himself to the child killers, McDonalds.Hey Gene, you idiot, do you realize thousands of the prisoners rotting in prison today for cannabis are KISS fans?You are disgusting! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by BGreen on June 13, 2002 at 23:37:54 PT Simmons is like Nugent A big-mouthed ass who had sex with anything that moved, but calls me immoral because I use cannabis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 13, 2002 at 22:54:56 PT Industrial Strength Governor Johnson is so very special. I can't wait until he is not a Governor and can get to work for drug policy reform. He is a strong willed, very self disciplined man. He seems patient but I wouldn't want to trip his trigger or watch out. That's how I think Governor Johnson is. I've never met him but have observed his actions over the last few years. The same with Bill Maher. I don't believe everything Bill Maher believes but he is right on about the drug war.That poor woman can't see the forest for the trees. She burys her head in the sand and doesn't get it. She can't see the big picture because she won't let herself see the big picture. It seems to be the way prohibionists think. They always are nervous too. She was nervous in my opinion and not because she was on tv either. When a person is wrong about an issue and won't admit it they fidget a lot. I don't know what to say about the man from Kiss. He is an odd one. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Toad on June 13, 2002 at 22:53:51 PT Sounds Great Gov. Johnson should help force the issue on resistant U.S Congressmen, and state officials. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Industrial Strength on June 13, 2002 at 22:37:55 PT Mr. Johnson Obviously, I had heard of him and read interviews, but tonights appearance on PI was the first time I have seen him, the first time I have seen him interact with others. A better spokesman I cannot invision. He knocked that woman out with the first punch. Dave Foley was pretty bright as well, but he's too Canadian for PI. He actually lets others finish what they are saying, and doesn't shout at people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by qqqq on June 13, 2002 at 19:11:41 PT ..Now this is good!.... ...this is very promising news.....For someone like Mr Johnson ,,an ex republican governor,,to form a group called;"Americans Against the War on Drugs"..........remarkable [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 13, 2002 at 15:46:59 PT Friendly Reminder - Johnson & Chastain on PI Bill Maher's Official Web Site http://www.billmaher.tv Bill Maher's New Message Board http://www.safesearching.com/boards/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=221 Politically Incorrect: Guests for Thursday, June 13 Dave Foley Comedian Gary Johnson New Mexico Governor Jane Chastain Columnist Gene Simmons Musician http://abc.abcnews.go.com/primetime/politicallyincorrect/index.html Johnson Forms Drug-Reform Group http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13119.shtml Legalizing Drugs is Dead Wrong -- Jane Chastain http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13117.shtml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment