By MARSHA THOLE
Thank you, Sen. Bill Tallman, D-Albuquerque, for advising caution on what some think is the inevitable legalization of recreational marijuana in New Mexico. The vendors and bean counters with their outlandish cash-flow forecasts are already licking their chops to encourage legislators to press on and ring up $800 million in sales, much of this coming from Texans seeking a closer “Rocky Mountain High,” no disrespect to John Denver.
But conspicuously and consistently absent is … the downside of legalization.
Where is the analysis of the impact that legalization would have, particularly medical, psychological, family disruption, accidents, crime connections, etc., not to mention our tax dollars going to pay for increased homelessness, debt and bankruptcy, domestic violence, crimes and homicides, and drivers having to now dodge the pot users on the roadways? One poll said 60% of pot users admitted to driving high. Colorado notes that since marijuana was legalized