Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
By this time next year, pot will be legal and openly for sale across New Mexico.
The Legislature approved cannabis legislation in a special session last week and the governor is expected to sign it any minute now.
There are plenty of reasons marijuana is a bad idea, as Republicans, and a few Democrats, have argued: It can result in impaired driving, workplace injuries, delayed brain development, and it may be a gateway to more serious drug addictions, which can result in lifelong health problems and death.
But of course you are not required to use it irresponsibly, or at all.
And there are advantages: Cannabis sales are expected to create jobs, generate $30 million per year in tax revenue, and attract tens of thousands of closet beatniks from Texas who will also buy all the Cheetos our grocery stores can stock.
New Mexico’s governor is really excited.
“(W)ith this major step forward, we are signaling more clearly than ever before that we are ready, as a state, to truly break new ground, to think differently about ourselves and our economic future, to fearlessly invest in ourselves and in the limitless potential of New Mexicans,” Michelle Lujan Grisham said Wednesday night after the House and Senate signed off on the bill.
Republicans are outraged.
“With New Mexico’s collapsed economy, high unemployment and weak education system, it’s sad that marijuana takes priority in a Special Session,” said NM GOP Chairman Steve Pearce. “Legalizing pot is not an important issue with the state facing so many serious problems. In addition, recreational marijuana would lead to even more crime, underage use and impaired driving.”
This is not surprising, of course. Republicans cry “Freedom!” when the topic is guns, Democrats cry “Freedom!” when the topic is legalized pot.
Mostly they just disagree with each other, no matter the topic … unless it involves spending taxpayer dollars on their agenda items. Both parties like to spend our money.
For many of us who don’t base opinions on what political parties are championing today, the legalization of marijuana seems a good idea that took far too long to realize.
Like alcohol, it can be abused. So can carbonated soft drinks and fast food.
Some may buy pot for the first time, now that the government says it’s OK. Most will likely use it as they do now, without fear of getting caught. The rest of us will hope this decision becomes a gateway to more responsible legislation that allows individuals to decide for themselves what’s right and what’s wrong.
For those who don’t already know, that means live free while respecting the rights of others to do the same.
— David Stevens
Publisher