N.M.  GOV.  CHASTISED ON DRUG STANCE

SANTA FE, N.M.  ( AP ) -- The New Mexico Senate condemned Gov.  Gary Johnson on Wednesday for supporting the legalization of cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

Senators voted 37 to 4 for the resolution, which was brought to the floor by Johnson's fellow Republicans in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

The House is considering a similar measure.

Johnson's spokeswoman, Diane Kinderwater, said it was ``a scary thought that New Mexico senators would advocate not allowing a governor to have freedom of speech, something this country was founded on.''

Johnson drew strong criticism last year when he first proposed the idea of legalizing drugs, with strict controls.

``Control it.  Regulate it.  Tax it.  If we legalize it, we just might have a better society,'' he said then, arguing that the war on drugs has been a multibillion-dollar failure.