Editor,
Your cartoon on March 4 exemplifies how complicated the issue of cannabis legalization has become.
To unravel the resulting confusion among users of this drug, there must first be broad agreement among all levels of government that cannabis is physically addictive, with serious consequences such as loss of working memory, cognitive impairment, even schizophrenia, and dangerous withdrawal symptoms like physical aggression.
Then, before any further legalization anywhere, there must first be local treatment centers and programs set up and funded by government specifically for cannabis addicts where medical confidentiality is honored as protection within which an addict can safely recover.
Cannabis addiction is an epidemic in this country, so it should be addressed as a public health crisis by lawmakers in D.C. before bickering superficially about legalization in their own backyard.
Sincerely,
Arun Anand Ahuja
UNM student
