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Republican Governor Forms Drug-Law Reform Group |
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CHICAGO, IL - The Republican Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, and a group of his closest advisors have taken the first steps to set up a new national organization to support the liberalization of drug laws. Steve Terrell of The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Gov. Johnson said he formed Americans Against the War on Drugs as a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating elected officials and candidates for office about drug-law reform. He plans to be a spokesman for the new group after he leaves office in January.
"Groups like NORML and the Drug Policy Alliance do a great job," Johnson said Wednesday. "But the one gap I see, the missing link, if you will, is reaching the policy makers. Many leaders won't schedule meetings with NORML," he said. Johnson hopes reluctant politicians might be willing to talk with a former governor. The focus will be on reaching incumbent or candidates for major office such as a governor, U.S. senator or U.S. representative in hopes of finding support for changing drug laws.
Governor Johnson is the nation's leading politician when it comes to promoting a new approach to the drug war. He admits to using marijuana as a young adult, followed by a successful business career, marriage, and governorship. He speaks about the insanity of our current approach to the drug war. "Ninety percent of the drug problem is prohibition related and not use related," Johnson said recently.
The new reform group will launch a Web site later this year and will be doing some direct mail to try to raise some money for it. He and supporters filed incorporation papers for Americans Against the War on Drugs with the state public regulation commission last month.
For more information, contact Bryan Brickner at 773.395.9708 or
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The Illinois chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
www.Illinoisnorml.org |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 31 May 2006 )
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