cannabisnews.com: Two More Officials Quit Drug Council Two More Officials Quit Drug Council Posted by FoM on October 08, 1999 at 14:38:10 PT By Guillermo Contreras, Journal Staff Writer Source: ABQ Journal Two more members of a state council that advises Gov. Gary Johnson on drugs have resigned because they don't support his call to legalize and regulate them. The latest members of the Drug Enforcement Advisory Council to quit are David Kitchen, special agent in charge of the FBI in New Mexico, and Otero County Sheriff John Lee. Bill Hansen, assistant special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Albuquerque, resigned earlier this week, leaving 13 members on the council. The council is made up of federal, state and local law enforcement members and prosecutors, and also oversees anti-narcotics operations. Lee couldn't be reached for comment, but Sandoval County Sheriff Ray Rivera, chairman of the council, said Lee told him of his resignation Thursday. Rivera said Lee said "he could not serve for a governor that wants to legalize marijuana and heroin." Kitchen agreed. "I regret (resigning) because I think the board was making some progress collectively in addressing some of the drug problems in New Mexico," he said Thursday, "but I cannot in good conscience support his current position on legalization and decriminalization of marijuana and heroin." Johnson's press secretary, Diane Kinderwater, said Johnson believes Kitchen and Hansen are listening to their federal superiors, and want to stick with the status quo -- a war on drugs that's not working. Rivera said he tried to talk Lee and Kitchen out of resigning. "Who cares what the governor is talking about on national television, as long as we hold tight within the state and do the job that we're hired to do?" Rivera asked. Kinderwater said Johnson's objective is "the same as that of all Americans -- to lower the use and abuse of drugs in this country" by taxing and regulating them and through education. Friday, October 8, 1999 Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 Albuquerque JournalDon't Legalize Drugs - 10/08/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3206.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by BigAb on October 09, 1999 at 08:13:55 PT: Cops Does anyone other than me think these guys jumped ship because they see their Nazi Storm-Trooper jobs going down the toilet ??? Hell No they won't support him !! They see all the money they've stolen at gun point slipping thru their fingers BUT most of all the see finding a REAL job as the most frightening aspect of all !!!!!!!Thugs, Nazi, Gestapo .... call em what you will it means the very same thing... REAL WORK as opposed to harrassing kids and sick people..... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on October 08, 1999 at 16:41:14 PT: RESIGN ..... ALL OF YOU ... "The council is made up of federal, state and local law enforcement members and prosecutors, and also oversees anti-narcotics operations."Does anyone not know what this council believes?The same old tired line of hate, and lies that never changes ....... RESIGN, DAMMIT, ALL OF YOU ... YOU ARE NO HELP TO THE HEALING PROCESS THAT MUST BEGIN IN AMERICA ...RESIGN .........RESIGN............RESIGN ............. Hemp n Stuff [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: