NEW MEXICO: Governor Advocates Legalizing Marijuana
New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson (R) said last week that he "supports the legalization of substances such as marijuana and heroin," making him the "highest ranking elected official to promote drug legalization," the AP/Washington Times reports. Johnson said that the "national war against drugs has failed to stop the flow or use of drugs and it consumes too much money that could be better used to stop violent crime." In the past, the New Mexico governor advocated only decriminalizing drug use by treating "drug possession much like a traffic violation and mak[ing] it punishable by a small fine" (AP/Washington Times, 10/1). New Mexico Lt. Gov Walter Bradley (R) "is at odds with his boss' stance on drug reform, saying it sends the wrong message to children" ( AP/Dallas Morning News, 10/3).
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