I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson continues his high profile blitz across America, this time in Washington D.C. at the 15th anniversary gala for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), a pro-marijuana legalization advocacy group. Others associated with the gala include comedians Cheech and Chong, talk show host Bill Maher, actor Steve Buscemi and musician Melissa Etheridge.
The MPP hopes for legalization of marijuana in 15 states by the end of 2010. Update: The MPP writes in an e-mail that they are “aiming to pass medical marijuana laws in 15 states, as well as decriminalization laws in 15 states, by 2010. Right now 13 states each have medical marijuana and decriminalization measures.”
The Web site of Johnson’s new group, the Our America Initiative, outlines the group’s (and Johnson’s) stance on marijuana.
Marijuana should be regulated and taxed by the federal government (just like tobacco is currently), which would lead to a lower price for the product and eliminate the criminal element from its distribution, much like the repeal of the prohibition of alcohol many decades back.
As governor, Gary Johnson became the highest ranking elected official to call for the legalization of marijuana. Though marijuana is still not fully legalized in the state, New Mexico is one of 13 states to legalize marijuana for medicinal use.
At a rally for Ron Paul last year, Johnson said, “I have advocated the legalization of marijuana and I advocated harm-reduction strategies for all these other drugs. This is a health problem, not a criminal justice problem.”
Johnson, an athlete, has said in many interviews that he does not smoke marijuana any more, though he did when he was younger.
