NADER WANTS MARIJUANA LEGAL

SANTA FE, N.M.--Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader on Friday
advocated the legalization of marijuana as part of an overhaul of the
nation's "self-defeating and antiquated drug laws."

Nader joined with New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, a Republican, in
criticizing the "war on drugs" as a failed policy for fighting drug use.

"Addiction should never be treated as a crime. It has to be treated as a
health problem," Nader said.

"We do not send alcoholics to jail in this country. We do not send nicotine
users to jail in this country. Over 500,000 people are in our jails who are
nonviolent drug users."

Nader supports lifting criminal sanctions for marijuana possession. For
other drugs he advocated "harm reduction" programs, such as methadone
maintenance and needle exchanges, that focus on treatment of addiction and
prevention of health problems from drug use.

Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush oppose legalizing marijuana,
according to their campaign spokesmen.