By Tim Archuleta
Tribune political editor

     Gov. Gary Johnson has asked the state's Republican Party leader to remain open to the idea of decriminalizing drug use in New Mexico.

Dendahl: Governor wants open-minded discussion of decriminalizing some drug use.

     Republican Party Chairman John Dendahl confirmed Tuesday that he discussed drug-policy issues with Johnson on Monday.
     "He wants us to be open to consider that (decriminalization of drugs) as one possibility," Dendahl said. "He said that ought to be considered. I'm with him on that. The problem of drug use is so bad."
     Right now, possession of illegal drugs is a misdemeanor or felony depending on the type of drug involved, and a conviction could mean jail or prison time.
     By decriminalizing drug use, police would have the option not to arrest. Some police officers say they would still have the authority to confiscate and destroy drugs they discover.
     The governor said he put the decriminalization idea on the table during a broader discussion on New Mexico and national drug policy.
     The governor said he's not sure if decriminalizing drugs is the right approach, but the idea does interest him.
     The governor has quietly been discussing drug policy with Cabinet members and close advisers.
     He said he wants to get drug policy in New Mexico on the "front burner and get people talking about it."
     "I've said . . . I don't have the answer," Johnson said. "What I do know is our present course is not working. Our war on drugs is a real failure."
     Johnson, prior to a Tuesday evening speech in Albuquerque to the Bernalillo County Republican Party, provided some details on his drug-policy meeting Monday with Dendahl and Mickey Barnett, a top state Republican and a Dendahl confidant.
     When asked if he supports decriminalizing drug use, Johnson said: "Keeping an open mind to all of it, what I'm saying is if I said to you right now I supported it, I wouldn't be able to defend it. I don't know enough about it."
     Johnson did not identify what type of drug use should be considered for decriminalization. Informal discussions have centered on marijuana.
     The governor said he called Monday's meeting to get advice from GOP leaders on the decriminalization and drug policy issues.
     Initially, Dendahl denied the meeting with Johnson ever took place. He also denied Johnson raised the issue of decriminalizing drugs.
     Dendahl late Tuesday afternoon called The Tribune back, said he had spoken to officials in the Governor's Office and acknowledged he had met with Johnson in Santa Fe and discussed the issue.
     Dendahl declined to say if he was concerned that Johnson, the state's top Republican, was talking about the controversial issue of decriminalizing drug use.
     He said Johnson has a political reputation for pushing issues that aren't necessarily politically popular.
     But he stressed that Johnson wasn't saying he was prepared to push for legislation decriminalizing drug use.
     He said he shares Johnson's frustration that federal drug-fighting campaigns are failing.
     It was former Republican President Ronald Reagan who initiated the so-called "war on drugs" in the 1980s.
     The idea of decriminalizing drug use is nothing new. It's been debated in political circles for years.
     The idea, however, is not part of the GOP's political platform. The party has embraced a "tough-on-crime" attitude to attract voters in past elections.
     Senate President Manny Aragon said he is not surprised Johnson is talking about decriminalizing drugs.
     "I've always said he is Libertarian, not a Republican," Aragon, a South Valley Democrat, said.
     The Libertarian Party favors ending criminal punishment for drug use. The party argues that government is infringing on individual liberties.
     Other mainstream political figures argue decriminalizing drug use would take the profit out of street narcotics sales.
     Aragon said the issue merits debate.
     "It's one of the subjects that should be discussed," he said. "If he wants to discuss it, people would listen."
     But Aragon conceded the idea is a political loser.
     "The chances of it occurring in New Mexico are not even 50-50 because of the prevailing attitude" about drugs, he said.
     Dendahl agreed. He said he doubts there is much support for ending criminal prosecution of drug-use offenses.
     Republican Party officials and GOP officeholders don't seem eager to add that idea to their 2000 campaign platforms.
     "If someone just came out today and said we ought to decriminalize drugs, I think the political reaction would be very negative," Dendahl said. "There is a lot of political data that shows that. There is very little support."
     Sen. Bill Davis, an ultra-conservative Republican, said there is "no Republican base preparing Draconian drug legislation."
     Davis said he was unaware of Johnson's exploration into the idea of decriminalizing drug use.
     Johnson's drug discussions apparently are geared toward possible recommendations for new state drug policies.
     Darren White, secretary of the state Public Safety Department, said he frequently discusses drug policy and decriminalization of drugs with the governor.
     He said the issue needs to be thoroughly debated because the nation is currently spending about $16 billion on fighting drugs and only seizes about 5 to 15 percent of the drugs coming into the country.
     New Mexico receives millions of those dollars because it is in a major drug-trafficking corridor.
     "I think the governor has a responsibility to ask these questions and look at other options," White said.
     White said he has told the governor, however, that he does not support decriminalization of drug use.
     "I'm not there," he said.