cannabisnews.com: Johnson To Redouble Drug Efforts 





Johnson To Redouble Drug Efforts 
Posted by FoM on March 28, 2000 at 23:31:59 PT
By Deborah Baker, The Associated Press 
Source: ABQjournal
Gov. Gary Johnson on Tuesday said he would redouble his drug-legalization education efforts despite the misgivings of fellow Republicans running for office this year.   "It shouldn't be a Republican issue," Johnson said.   The governor said voters are smart enough to separate his position on drugs from that of candidates who may disagree with him  —  whether Republican or Democrat. 
 Legislators "aren't getting beat up like I'm getting beat up," the governor said in an interview.   "I don't want to not talk about the issue and have people believe that somehow I'm shying away from my beliefs," the governor said.   Polls published last week indicate that "I need to redouble my efforts with regard to what it is that I'm saying. . . . that there is another side to this issue than the one that we've been fed for many, many years," Johnson said.   Those polls showed the governor's approval rating fell nearly 20 points in the past year with the public, and nearly 30 points with Republicans.   Asked if he thought the drop in GOP support was due to his drug legalization talk, he replied, "Sure."   Johnson said he was not surprised that the poll commissioned by the Albuquerque Journal showed so little public support for his proposal to legalize drugs such as marijuana and heroin. Sixty-eight percent of registered voters polled said it was a bad idea.   "But what it tells me is that I do have that work to do that I anticipated I would have to do," he said.   Johnson had promised GOP lawmakers late last year that he would tone down his drug-legalization advocacy during the legislative session. He said that commitment would extend through the special session that began Tuesday.   But prompted by questions from students, Johnson spent much of his time with a youth group on Tuesday defending drug legalization.   "Don't do drugs. Don't smoke cigarettes. Don't do tobacco. Don't drink," Johnson told delegates to the YMCA Youth and Government Model Legislature, meeting at the Capitol.   But he also gave them this pitch: pass a resolution in support of legalizing drugs.   "Fifty-four percent of the graduating class of 2000 will have done illegal drugs," he told the high school students. "Do we want to arrest and incarcerate this country?"   A couple of the teen-agers criticized the governor for sending what they said was a mixed message.   Since he proposes legalizing drugs, "How can you expect us to take you seriously when you say they're bad?" one boy asked.   A girl told Johnson young people would be "extremely confused" hearing his legalization message after getting so much anti-drug education in schools.   "What are these kids to think?" she asked him.   Johnson said the real mixed message is being sent when anti-drug spokesmen warn young people that marijuana will lead to crime and death, and then those who smoke it discover "it was kind of a mellow experience."   "The government should be honest in the message that it's sending," he said. Published: March 28, 2000Copyright © 1997 - 2000 Albuquerque JournalCannabisNews Articles on Governor Gary Johnson:Johnson Tells Students Not To Do Drugs http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5180.shtmlhttp://www.ussc.alltheweb.com/cgi-bin/search?type=all&query=cannabisnews+gary+johnson
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Comment #5 posted by MMM on March 29, 2000 at 10:14:30 PT
In other words...
In other words... we lied. How can we tell the kids we lied? Well, just like they found out about Santa, the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny...
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Comment #4 posted by dddd on March 29, 2000 at 08:12:08 PT
P.S.
 I am somewhat confused concerning the intent of Alexandre Oemigs'comments,(#2). It seems like he's angry and/or bitter about things,and there's nothing wrong with that,but why pick on Mr. Johnson?....dddd
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Comment #3 posted by dddd on March 29, 2000 at 08:02:01 PT
Marijuana and heroin
 It is regretful that Gov. Johnson has chosen to lump marijuana and heroin together,but I am suprised and impressed to see him continue to press on with his message.It is quite rare to see anyone in public office take such a firm and unwavering stand on such a controversial issue. It becomes even more stunning when you consider that he is a republican. The main reason I admire Mr Johnson,is how he has continued to speak out,in spite of widespread condemnation from his party,and many others.Most politicians would have folded long ago from the pressure of his critics. Thank you governor Johnson!I think you are a good man........dddd
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Comment #2 posted by Alexandre Oeming on March 29, 2000 at 06:42:56 PT:
Give it up for the Guv'nuh!
>Asked if he thought the drop in GOP support was due to his drug legalization talk, he replied, "Sure." Duh! I think i'm going to use this as a lyric in a song called, "Where did all the brains go?".>Johnson said he was not surprised that the poll commissioned by the Albuquerque Journal showed so little public support for his proposal to legalize drugs such as marijuana and heroin. Sixty-eight percent of registered voters polled said it was a bad idea. Gee, could that be b/c they put heroin and MJ together? You think? Again, "Where did all the brains go?">"But what it tells me is that I do have that work to do that I anticipated I would have to do," he said. I just love this guy!!! The question arises, of course, as to the exact size of "them". What could "they" be, you ask? Why, the size of his brass balls! (bygones for the "profanity", but i am *pumped* after reading this!)>A girl told Johnson young people would be "extremely confused" hearing his legalization message after getting so much anti-drug education in schools. Yung-uns just loooove their brainwashing! New and improved with the age ole touch of addiction!>"What are these kids to think?" she asked him. Well, little Red Riding Hood, maybe they should "think" for themselves, rather than to "think" what they are told to "think", hmmmmmm? And people wonder why our kids these days suck in their studies and can only think of carrying weapons to school. Pathetic.Out.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 29, 2000 at 06:34:19 PT
Gov. To Continue Drug Rhetoric 
Gov. To Continue Drug Rhetoric ABQjournalhttp://www.abqjournal.com/Wednesday, March 29, 2000 By Loie Fecteau Journal Capitol Bureau   SANTA FE — Gov. Gary Johnson said Tuesday that he knew his popularity would plummet when he started advocating the legalization of illicit drugs, including marijuana and heroin.   But Johnson said he plans to continue to speak out in favor of drug legalization because he believes it is the right thing to do.   "I recognized that if I had good approval, that that good approval was going to dive," Johnson told reporters. "I recognized that prior to doing any of this."   Johnson's approval rating with voters has plunged nearly 20 points in the past year, declining from a 54 percent level to 35 percent earlier this month, according to a recent Journal poll.   At the same time, more than two-thirds of the New Mexico voters surveyed in the Journal poll called Johnson's recent push to legalize marijuana and heroin a bad idea.   "What it tells me is I need to redouble my efforts with regard to what it is that I'm saying" about drug legalization, Johnson said Tuesday of his drop in popularity.   Earlier this year, at the urging of other Republicans, Johnson agreed to tone down his drug rhetoric during the regular legislative session, which ended Feb. 17.   Johnson said he would honor that commitment through the special session. However, on Tuesday he discussed his views on drug legalization with student delegates to the YMCA Youth and Government Model Legislature, as he did Monday with the Rotary Club of Albuquerque and with a group of San Juan College students last week in Farmington.   "I don't want to not talk about the issue and have people believe that somehow I'm shying away from my beliefs," Johnson said Tuesday. "These legislators aren't getting beat up like I'm getting beat up, and, again, I expected to get beat up."   Johnson said he does not think his advocacy of drug legalization should be a campaign issue in the upcoming primary and general elections. All 112 legislative seats are up for grabs this year.   Johnson described his push to legalize illicit drugs as "a campaign of information."   "There is another side to this issue than the one that we've been fed for many, many years," Johnson said. "I think people do want to try and understand that other side to this issue."   In the latest Journal poll, 44 percent of registered voters surveyed said they disapproved of the job Johnson is doing as governor. Sixteen percent had mixed feelings, and 5 percent were undecided. It was the first time since he took office in 1995 that Johnson's disapproval rating climbed above his approval rating.   Johnson's popularity fell most sharply among his fellow Republicans in the latest Journal poll, plunging nearly 30 percentage points over the past year.   Johnson said Tuesday he believes his drop in popularity is directly related to his push to legalize drugs.   "I'm not surprised by it," Johnson said. "I knew when I started this discussion that I figured this was going to be a 70-30, that's what I figured, 70 percent against, 30 (percent) that were for it."   In the Journal poll conducted earlier this month, 68 percent of registered voters said they thought Johnson's push to legalize drugs was a bad idea. Sixteen percent said it was a good idea; 13 percent had mixed feelings, depending on which drugs; and 3 percent were undecided.   The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. The statewide telephone survey of 408 registered voters was conducted March 14-16. Copyright © 1997 - 2000 Albuquerque Journal
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