MAKE MARIJUANA LEGAL, NADER URGES

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 nation's "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
non-violent drug users."

Nader, like Johnson, supports lifting criminal sanctions for marijuana
possession. For other drugs, such as heroin, 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 aides.