cannabisnews.com: Johnson, Hutchinson To Debate Drug Laws at Yale Johnson, Hutchinson To Debate Drug Laws at Yale Posted by FoM on November 15, 2001 at 07:10:04 PT By Steve Terrell, The New Mexican Source: Santa Fe New Mexican Back in the early 1980s LSD guru Tim Leary and Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy used to tour college campuses together for boisterous but generally good-natured debates about drug laws. Well, now there's the Gary and Asa Roadshow.Following their lively nationally broadcast debate in Albuquerque about drug policy in September, New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and Drug Enforcement Administration head Asa Hutchinson are taking their show on the road, debating tonight at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. At the Sept. 10 debate at The University of New Mexico, later broadcast on National Public Radio's Justice Talking, Johnson - who has become a nationally recognized advocate for radically reforming drug laws - reiterated his belief that marijuana should be legalized and that authorities should focus on saving lives of hard-drug abusers instead of making arrests.Hutchinson, a former Arkansas congressman and former federal prosecutor, stressed his philosophy that enforcing drug laws is an important component in combating the drug problem. Hutchinson - appointed to the position this year by President Bush - insisted that legalization would lead to more drug addiction.Although the Albuquerque debate was not as colorful as the old Leary-Liddy forums, at times it got fairly raucous, with the speakers frequently getting interrupted by applause - and occasionally jeers.Both Johnson and Hutchinson are Republicans.This is Johnson's second drug-related out-of-state trip this month. Early in November he traveled to Canada, where he spoke to a committee of that nation's parliament about reforming drug laws.Katharine Huffman, director of the New Mexico office of the Lindesmith Center Drug Policy Foundation, said Wednesday that even though she disagrees with Hutchinson's positions, she admires him for discussing the issue at public forums with Johnson.Huffman said that former President Clinton's drug czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, never would debate the issue. (A short discussion including McCaffrey and Johnson on a CNN news show was marred by a faulty audio hook-up.)Huffman hopes Johnson and Hutchinson will debate in other places in the future. Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM)Author: Steve Terrell, The New MexicanPublished: November 15, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Santa Fe New MexicanContact: letters sfnewmexican.comWebsite: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/Related Articles & Web Sites: Justice Talkinghttp://www.justicetalking.org/Governor Gary Johnson's Home Pagehttp://www.governor.state.nm.us/Dope Debate - Santa Fe New Mexicanhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10894.shtmlLeaders Discuss Drug War Policyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10893.shtmlPro-Pot Governor Debates DEA Chief http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10892.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by FoM on November 15, 2001 at 15:35:20 PT JR here's the link I put the link on my what's new page. I've only found one article on the debate tonight. That's unusual. Usually all three of New Mexico's papers do an article.http://justicetalking.org/shows/show182.asp What's New in Drug Policy Reform [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Morgan on November 15, 2001 at 15:22:45 PT Try this J.R... www.justicetalking.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on November 15, 2001 at 15:09:15 PT Speaking of the first debate... What ever happened to the first debate? Kinda unfortunate to happen on 9/10/01, but that shouldn't totally bury it. Is there someplace online we can listen to or watch the entire thing from beginning to end? Wasn't it supposed to air on C-SPAN? I'm happy Gary Johnson is acceptible enough for the antis to consider debating him. The debate could do a lot of good. But it needs to be seen and heard, not just read about but actually experienced! And a friend of mine made a good point. If Gary Johnson's actually the governor, why can't he just pardon everybody who's convicted of a cannabis offense? The cops could still harass and bust, but there would be no power behind it because everyone would know that the courts would just throw it out. Well, until the DEA busts in... which may be why Gary Johnson feels the need to make the acquaintance of Asa Hutchinson before doing such a sweeping pardon at the end of his term. Wouldn't that be nice? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by CongressmanSuet on November 15, 2001 at 10:24:41 PT I will bet this debate.. is a verbatum account of the first debate. You are right, Gf. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by greenfox on November 15, 2001 at 10:24:15 PT GCW I spake this unto thee:I have attended the benefits. I have watched with sorrowful eyes as the underdogs attack the DEA I have asked questions which deserve answers from the powers that be.and...?I have spat at it. Here's why: you haven't tasted freedom until you have experienced outside this country. Once you do, our feeble attempt at what we hold so dearly to be "freedom" pales at the comparison to 'other' freedoms, leaving our own to resemble little more than a dying fetus. To be able to walk into a coffee shop, to buy legally and know it's safe, to LOVE that which you CAN NOT HAVE- it's something, let me tell you. I am not ones with words but my passion is strong. Let all the flag waving, SUV owning power mums of the world hear me now: Little johnny is NEXT and there's nothing you can do about it. That's right- Johnny is going to use drugs, kill, smoke, (and probably fuck too). And all the prevention in the world will only buy you one thing: the same chains which you so proudly bear unto (and vainly in the name of) "patriotism". All you foul beasts who support the bushy one, and his dumpublican ideals of states' rights and cornbread for dinner with the family can kiss my sweet ass. And you know why? Because I'm not a fence-sitter. I am out fighting in the trenches for YOUR VERY FREEDOM which you so BLINDLY cast in a boot to help "america". I hate you but I'm saving your freedom, (and eventually your ass,) so at least be grateful. :P PEACE SAID. And GCW, no harm no foul. :)sly in green, foxy in kind... -gf [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on November 15, 2001 at 09:41:53 PT This is good. People hear and listen to these dialogs. This will help busy people understand different positions favorable to take, to the cannabis issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by greenfox on November 15, 2001 at 09:05:56 PT This means nothing They provide debate to satisfy the masses. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment