NADER ENDORSES LEGAL MARIJUANA

SANTA FE, N.M., Sept. 8 (AP) - Ralph Nader, the Green Party presidential
nominee, spoke out today for the legalization of marijuana as part of an
overhaul of the nation's "self-defeating and antiquated drug laws."

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

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

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

Mr. Nader, like Governor Johnson, supports lifting criminal sanctions for
marijuana possession. For other drugs, like heroin, he advocated programs
like methadone maintenance and needle exchanges that focus on treatment of
addiction and prevention of health problems from drug use.