Anti-Drug-War Advocate Gary Johnson Will Now Run for President as a Libertarian, Not a Republican
Anti-Drug-War Advocate Gary Johnson Will Now Run for President as a Libertarian, Not a Republican
By Kristen Gwynne
December 21, 2011
Politico reports that the former governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, will drop out of the Republican primary for President, and instead seek election under the Libertarian Party ticket. The switch may not be of interest to strict Leftist voters, but drug policy reformists keep a close eye on his campaign: Johnson is a strong advocate for legalizing marijuana and utilizing harm reduction, or treating drug abuse as a health problem.
From his website:
Abuse of hard drugs is a health problem that should be dealt with by health experts, not a problem that should be clogging up our courts, jails, and prisons with addicts. Instead of continuing to arrest and incarcerate drug users, we should seriously consider the examples of countries such as Portugal and the Netherlands, and we should ultimately choose to adopt policies which aim to reduce death, disease, violence, and crime associated with dangerous drugs.
Honest, effective education will be key to succeeding with this transition. America has cut teen cigarette use in half, not by criminalizing possession and use, but through a combination of honest education and sensible regulation.
While his drug policy may be appealing to more Leftist voters, Johnson is still an advocate for austerity, and wants to keep the government out of education. Perhaps a more progressive stance, he says the Patriot Act should be allowed to expire, and is also pro gay marriage.
Read the full article at:
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/751798/anti-drug-war_advocate_gary_johnson_will_now_run_for_president_as_a_libertarian%2C_not_a_republican/#paragraph4
I don't support Johnson's presidential campaign but I think progressives need to pay attention to what he is saying and doing. BBI
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