"Why don't they pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as well as prohibition did, in five years Americans would be the smartest race of people on Earth." - - Will Rogers It's time to regulate and tax the consumption of marijuana like alcohol. Why? The reasons are compelling, conclusive, and plentiful. The most obvious? Prohibition increases use. When the United States banned alcohol in 1919 consumption initially went down. However, by the time it was repealed in 1932 more people were drinking more alcohol (a 30-40 percent increase) than they did before prohibition was passed. The same thing is happening with marijuana; as more states tax and regulate, teen use is decreasing at a significant level. [continues 522 words]
Consider, please, the police officer, the sheriff's deputy, the state police trooper. They are all that stands between us and the mayhem and chaos of intentional lawlessness. Most of what goes wrong that they must try to contain stems from our insatiable appetites for drugs and alcohol. We are careful to distinguish between "our" substance use and "their" abuse, though it is law enforcement that has to sort it out. With that in mind, think of the less than alert citizenry they must deal with in our community. There are the suburbs and the professional community, where substance abuse is more nuanced, where designated drivers are more likely to come into play, where, when law enforcement comes into the picture, there might be specialized need and arrests are less likely than rehabilitation. [continues 722 words]
If not for the press release and subsequent news story, most southwest New Mexico residents wouldn't know that a new medical marijuana provider has been licensed for Catron County. Which is a good thing. Area residents who are certified to consume cannabis for medical reasons will now be able to obtain their supply without needing to travel to Albuquerque, while the rest of us should notice no difference at all. When the law allowing for medical marijuana use was being debated in the New Mexico Legislature, there was great concern among opponents that New Mexico would follow other states such as California, where loose controls have created a system where just about anyone can qualify for medical marijuana. [continues 239 words]
LAS CRUCES -- You won't likely see medical marijuana advertised at the corner pharmacy just yet, but regional delivery of the state-approved treatment is closer to reality. Six new nonprofit producers for the state's medical cannabis program have been approved. Grant County's 60 patients certified by the state to use medical marijuana will soon be able to travel to Dona Ana County or Catron County instead of the state's larger communities in the north. The six new nonprofits announced Friday are in Dona Ana, Harding, Lea, Catron, Cibola and Bernalillo counties. Statewide, there are 1,952 registered patients. [continues 484 words]
There are two drug-related confrontations going on in Mexico: The government's physical war on narco traffickers and the government's war of words against the United States. Last week, Mexican President Felipe Calderon used a nationally televised address to again blame his country's unrest on the demand for illegal drugs in the U.S. His point continues to be well taken. But, in a back-atcha, the physical war he initiated in 2006 is still being controlled by the bad guys. [continues 282 words]
When a pizzeria closes, the pizzeria down the block usually sees a surge in business. That principle applies to commerce in the larger North American neighborhood. Whenever the United States locks the gate on a plausible economic activity, Canadians move in and profit. The Bush administration's hostility toward stem-cell science created opportunity in Canada. Starved of adequate federal support, American labs doing this cutting-edge science shrank or closed down, and many of their researchers moved to Canada. Between 2002 and 2007, the number of American university professors and assistants relocating to Canada jumped 27 percent, according to Canadian immigration officials. Some were stars in stem-cell research. [continues 525 words]
SILVER CITY -- A handicapped Silver City woman says she is being discriminated against because she has medical marijuana in her home and was told to move out of her apartment as a result. Bobbie Wooten, who lives in the Silver Cliffs apartments in Silver City, said an apartment management representative performed a surprise inspection on Tuesday and discovered two marijuana plants. According to Wooten, the representative left and came back a short while later and gave her a notice telling her she had three days to move out. [continues 416 words]
Methamphetamines have become the drug of choice across the nation and the "one hit and you're hooked" drug is one of the hardest for health officials to treat and users to kick. Jim Helgert, program supervisor for Intensive Family Support with Border Area, said meth is more addictive than any other substance because of the way it affects the brain and its lasting side effects on users. "What makes it so addictive is it causes the brain to overproduce dopamine and dopamine is responsible for feelings of pleasure," Helgert said. [continues 1326 words]
Three local candidates have already announced their candidacy for county seats that come up for reelection in 2006. Three elected seats within the county are up for reelection next year including district 1 and 2 county commission seats, county assessor, county sheriff, probate judge and magistrate judge, divisions 1 and 2. The three early announcement include a candidate for county sheriff and two candidates for the district 2 county commission seat. James Koons has announced his intention to run for the seat of sheriff and Patrick R. Peralta and Carlos Provencio have begun the face-off for district 2 county commissioner. Currently the district 2 seat is held by Charles Kelly. Kelly has not announced his intention to run for reelection. [continues 941 words]
As the scourge of methamphetamine abuse rages across the country, survivors of the debilitating drug are speaking out in hopes of saving others from the pain and suffering they have fought to overcome. One who has struggled through the addiction is 18-year-old Randy Bennett, a Deming High School student, who is now speaking out to his fellow teens and their parents in hopes of raising awareness about the dangers of meth. "If you're thinking about trying meth, don't," Bennett said. "And if you're using meth, quit. It will take you places you don't want to go." [continues 689 words]
