MOTIVATION

Our New Mexico legislature is apparently looking again at the legalization of recreational pot. I can’t speak as an expert on medicinal pot, but I will speak on what some legislators & special interest groups want to do in de-criminalizing & legalizing recreational.

What I say is based on 3 things: 1) the historical prohibition of producing, selling, possessing, & using pot after it became an issue in America; 2) common sense about it that is based on its effect on people (there is plenty of research out there if you care to google it); & 3) the negative effect pot has had on my & following generations.

Motivation is a huge part of why people do things.

Legislators & the special interest groups who advocate for legalization of recreational pot don’t do that in a vacuum. They also don’t do it from altruistic motivations. 

One of the primary arguments they use is that it will increase tax revenues coming into the state treasury. (Ironically, they claim that they will use part of those revenues to fund better mental health care.) They have a vested economic interest in the legalization & taxation of recreational pot. 

THIS CANCELS OUT ANY CONCERN THEY MIGHT HAVE FOR ITS NEGATIVE RESULTS.

On the other hand, people who oppose legalizing recreational pot have no economic interest in the results of the legislation. If it passes, we are not affected negatively or positively. (At least initially; public safety & other issues will ultimately raise vehicle insurance rates, etc. But that is another issue for another time.)

What I am saying is that those who oppose pot legalization are motivated for reasons that that are actually altruistic. We have nothing to gain or lose economically. But we do have specific concerns & reasons why we believe it should continue to be against the law.

Remember this when you start seeing propaganda intended to push this down our throats.