Schuller Urges New Strategies in War on Drugs : Substance abuse: Conservative cleric adds name to petition signed by some who seek legalization of narcotics. But Crystal Cathedral leader calls only for greater scrutiny of failed policies.

Entering the debate over how society should deal with the persistent problem of drug abuse, the Crystal Cathedral’s Rev. Robert H. Schuller on Wednesday joined a growing list of public figures calling for reform of U.S. drug laws.

The religious leader became the latest major figure to sign a petition that calls for a federal commission to study the drug issue and recommend changes in policy. The document already contains the names of former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke and economist Milton Friedman, among others.

“Our society must recognize drug use and abuse as the medical and social problems that they are and . . . they must be treated with medical and social solutions,” according to the resolution of the Coalition for National Drug Policy Change signed by Schuller.

Although some members of the coalition are pushing for legalizing drugs, the petition stops short of listing that as a goal and only goes so far as to urge President Clinton and Congress to form a commission to study new approaches in the flagging war on drugs.

Schuller’s announcement came just one day after Justice Department officials said that Atty. Gen. Janet Reno is considering easing prosecution of some low-level drug offenses, such as possession of small amounts of narcotics.

Schuller, whose weekly “Hour of Power” television program reaches a viewership of 13 million people worldwide, is not supporting drug legalization, a position advocated by some petition signers. Orange County Superior Court Judge James P. Gray, who has helped organize the coalition, favors “regulated distribution” of certain illegal narcotics instead of outright legalization. But Schuller wants to see greater scrutiny of failed policies, a spokesman said.

Schuller’s mere presence on a list of signatories who support the controversial legalization platform was hailed as an unexpected boost to efforts to force a rethinking of current narcotics policies.

“I don’t think we can underestimate the impact of Rev. Robert Schuller signing this petition,” said Gray, whose stance in the last year sparked vociferous opposition from local law enforcement leaders who favor tough drug prosecution.

Kevin B. Zeese, vice president of the Drug Policy Foundation, a Washington think tank that supports new solutions to drug abuse, said Schuller’s reputation as a conservative religious leader makes him an important addition to the list of names on the petition.

Other members of the clergy have already signed on with the movement, Zeese said, “but he’s the first that’s got his kind of national recognition. So for that reason, this is a very significant move.”

The Crystal Cathedral, which Schuller heads, will be the site of a forum Monday night organized by the coalition. But Larry Sonnenburg, chief of staff for Schuller, said the religious leader is not sponsoring the forum and has no plans to use his television show to promote the cause.

“Judge Gray makes a good case that there is a major problem. While Schuller does not agree with his position, he is willing to say it needs to be looked at,” Sonnenburg said after a news conference.

Also joining the list Wednesday were San Diego Appellate Judge Charles W. Froelich Jr. and San Francisco Appellate Judge William A. Newsom. Schuller was in Amsterdam on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment. But his position took some people aback Wednesday.

“I’m somewhat surprised,” said Orange County Supervisor Thomas F. Riley. “I would think (Schuller) would say someone else should take the leadership in that issue.”

Betsy Arnow, vice chairwoman of the Orange County Advisory Board on Drug Programs and an opponent of drug legalization, said petition organizers such as Gray seem intent on making drugs legal--even if the petition does not say so directly.

“We are opposed to this because we know where (Gray) is headed with it,” she said.

Gray said he began working on the petition with an Anaheim surgeon after meeting with the Rev. Cecil (Chip) Murray of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, another official who believes that amassing signatures might force more attention to failures in drug policies.

San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan could be the next official to join the group’s ranks. A spokesman for Jordan said Wednesday that he is “looking favorably” on the petition but has not signed it yet.

The petition offers a broad indictment of current policies, asserting that drug prosecutions have resulted in a “loss of civil liberties” and have “spawned a cycle of hostility” against minorities. Meanwhile, the petition says, “huge” drug revenues in this nation go untaxed.

“We want the government officials in Washington to feel that they can pause, that they can step back and take a fresh look at (drug policies) and not commit political suicide,” said Joseph D. McNamara, a former San Jose police chief who is one of the petition’s original signatories.