A pair of proposals liberalizing New Mexico’s marijuana policies edged closer to becoming law this week.
The Senate Tuesday approved legislation by a 29-12 vote that exempts qualified patients who use marijuana with their doctor’s permission from criminal penalties under state law. Patients would not be able to cultivate their own marijuana under the proposal, as they can in states with similar medical marijuana programs. Instead, lawmakers are hopeful that the Health Department will eventually oversee the cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana. However, they intend to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the matter this year before introducing regulations for any specific distribution plan. In the interim, qualified patients will be issued photo identification cards authorizing them to possess and use marijuana in accordance with state law.
A companion bill, H.B. 431, was approved by the House Judiciary Committee yesterday and now awaits action by the full House.
Also this week, the House Committee on Consumer and Public Affairs approved 6-1 a bill that would remove criminal penalties for the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. Similar laws exist in ten states, all of which were enacted in the 1970s.
The proposal, introduced by Rep. Gail Beam (D-Albuquerque), would punish those found in possession of marijuana with a civil citation and $300 fine in lieu of arrest and possible jail time. Under current law, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana is punishable by up to 15 days in jail for first time offenders, and as much as one year in jail for subsequent offenses.
The bill now awaits action by the House Judiciary Committee. A companion bill in the Senate, S.B. 315, has yet to be heard.
For more information, please contact R. Keith Stroup, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500. For more information on these bills, visit: http://capwiz.com/norml2/officials/state/?state=NM&lvl=L.
