cannabisnews.com: 60 Minutes To Air Johnson Drug Views





60 Minutes To Air Johnson Drug Views
Posted by FoM on April 20, 2000 at 12:40:53 PT
Journal Staff Report 
Source: ABQjournal
Gov. Gary Johnson's campaign for drug reform and the legalization of some illicit drugs will be featured on the CBS television newsmagazine program "60 Minutes," his press secretary said Wednesday.   Commentator Ed Bradley interviewed Johnson in December on his drug views for the profile scheduled to be aired at 6 p.m. Sunday, said Diane Kinderwater, the governor's press secretary. 
  "The governor will be attacking the nation's failed drug war," she said. "Not only is it an expensive war, but it's locking up hundreds of thousands of Americans."   Lauren Reichelt, the Rio Arriba County director of health and human services, also was interviewed by Bradley about her role in combating a black-tar heroin crisis centered in the Española Valley. Since 1995, more than 180 people have died of cocaine or heroin overdoses in Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties.   Johnson said last month he knew his popularity would plummet because of his desire to have drugs such as marijuana and heroin legalized.   Johnson's approval rating with state voters has plunged almost 20 points in the past year, dropping from 54 percent in April 1999 to 35 percent last month, according to an Albuquerque Journal poll.   More than two-thirds of New Mexico voters surveyed in the poll called Johnson's push to legalize marijuana and heroin a bad idea.   In spite of the opposition, Johnson this month vetoed a provision in the $3.5 billion state budget that would have banned the use of budget money to "promote the legalization or decriminalization of controlled substances."   Johnson, who has spent state funds in the past on trips to promote his drug views, said the budget provision was an infringement on his freedom of speech.   However, Johnson added he won't spend any more state money for his own travel on out-of-state trips promoting his drug views, although his security detail would still be paid with state funds. Published: Thursday, April 20, 2000Copyright © 1997 - 2000 Albuquerque JournalRelated Articles & Web Sites:Governor Gary Johnson's Home Pagehttp://www.governor.state.nm.us/The New Mexico Drug Policy Foundationhttp://www.newmexicodrugpolicy.org/60 Minutes Web Site:http://cbsnews.cbs.com/now/section/0,1636,3415-412,00.shtml Johnson Cuts Drug Censorship http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5379.shtmlCannabisNews Articles On Governor Gary Johnson - Over 220 News Items:http://google.com/search?lc=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+Governor+Johnson++site:cannabisnews.com
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Comment #3 posted by mungojelly on April 21, 2000 at 07:48:43 PT:
nothing bad can come of this
There's no way they can convince the American public that this governor has just gone stark raving mad. The public may not agree with Johnson (especially if the surveys refuse to abandon the phrase "marijuana and heroin") but they know that his position is a rational one, & they know that there are many people who agree with him. There are a lot of people trying to pretend that there is no debate to be had on the subject of legalization. From now on, they can still insist that they have won the debate, but the debate will take place. 
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Comment #2 posted by dddd on April 20, 2000 at 16:57:38 PT
60 minutes
Interesting point Observer.Like you,I hope they will give a balanced portrayal,which they have done in the past,but it would be no suprise if they make him appear to be an imbalanced nut. Perhaps they will need to make him look bad,so they can get their credit with the ONDCP.........dddd
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Comment #1 posted by observer on April 20, 2000 at 15:07:54 PT
I Predict...
Sometimes 60 Minutes does a good job in trying to get a message out (as for the Echelon story a few weeks back). However, I predict that 60 Minutes will take this opportunity to attempt to savage Gov Johnson, cutting and splicing to make him seem as outrageous as 60 Minutes can possibly do. I sure hope I'm very wrong, because Johnson's message needs to be heard, and 60 Minutes could be a good place to get it out. Keep your fingers crossed that I am wrong.
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