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Support New Mexico Governor, Gary Johnson's "Just Say Know" Campaign[Published in Albuquerque's Weekly Alibi The Honorable Governor Gary Johnson Dear Governor Johnson: I am writing you to thank you for your courage on the issue of legalizing marijuana. I guess it is difficult for regular citizens as well as elected representatives to speak out and stand up publicly on this issue. There is such a great and negative stigma associated with supporting legalization. I am willing to go on record of being a past experimenter with cannabis. It has been quite a while since I had time for the recreation. Life becomes so busy as we get older. Yet, I remember the fun my college mates and I had just being kids. I want you to know that if I could have one wish, that wish would be for our country to substitute marijuana for alcohol. Anyone who studies people knows it is far too easy to abuse alcohol. Most of us have witnessed the consequences of abuse. On alcohol, people become angry, aggressive or socially dangerous. While marijuana may present health risks to the smoker, I have never witnessed anyone demonstrate socially dangerous tendencies while high. Their greatest crimes are generally getting the "munchies," listening to music, or having too much fun dancing. Marijuana seems to mellow the user; alcohol turns people aggressive. We have enough anger in this world. I consider myself liberal and traditionally vote democratic. I have spoken out against many of your policies due to your strong business focus. Yet, your stance on this issue overrides the historical friction between workers and owners. Your courage to undertake this fight in the face of such irrational hysteria and political witch hunting marks you as a great leader. You have earned my vote, and more importantly, my respect. I recently posted a Web article on an important issue. It may be of use to you in your campaign. To
summarize this complex matter would be unjust. I request that you have your staff review this
story. It demonstrates the irrationality and horror of the current drug policy in our country.
Please visit: In conclusion, I would like to add how shocked I was to hear Donna Shalala on CNN today. She was "all smiles" as the federal representatives announced that marijuana use and other illegal drug use dropped last year in the 12- to-17-year-old age group. Youth marijuana experimentation "decreased" from the previous year's 11.5% to 9.9%. Shalala failed to say that tobacco use skyrocketed among this cohort -- from 34.6% in 1994 to 41.6% last year. Shalala and General McCaffrey also noted that the decline in drug use by young teens is "solid evidence" that the nation has turned a corner after experiencing rising use through the mid-1990s. Both failed to mention that a total of 130,000 people currently use heroin, double the number in 1993. Further, the age of users is dropping. In 1997, the typical heroin user was 17.6 years old the first time they tried it, down from 18.3 years old in 1996. We have spent billions of dollars on this irrational war. Our public trophy is a one percent drop in marijuana usage, a seven percent increase in tobacco use and a heroin problem that has doubled. As a footnote, the study quietly reported a significant increase in drug use by African and Spanish Americans -- as if these citizens really do not count. There is no sense in this current policy direction. You have a long road ahead of you. There is nothing to fear, but fear itself -- and our country is overwhelmed with fear. It is a time in need of great leaders. I thank you for your courage to take the road less traveled. Sincerely, Scott Goold, Ph.D* |