Pot’s reputation is already dubious

THE ARROGANT and greedy attitude of some capitalists is astounding. The executive director of the “New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce” was reported in the Journal as being upset the city of Albuquerque would seek to regulate where marijuana stores can be located. He was quoted as saying the “stigmatization” of marijuana feels like it is moving backward. Anywhere there is a Starbucks, there could be a marijuana store, he said. Say what? Unfortunately but not surprisingly, the Keller administration immediately fell to its knees and began apologizing for its announced plans for limiting where marijuana can be sold.

Remember that until this year when the governor chose to call a special session specifically to ram through the recreational use of marijuana, the Legislature had for several years refused to allow it. Remember that the vast majority of states, the United States and almost every other country have not encouraged the use of marijuana by legalizing it and promoting it as a source of more tax money. Remember that marijuana is a mind-altering drug and New Mexico has had its share of problems with mind-altering drugs ranging from alcohol to meth. With that backdrop, the marijuana industry is worried that the reputation of the drug is starting to go “backward” because a city wants to regulate where this drug can be sold?

Give me a break.

SCOTT EATON Los Ranchos