New Mexico approves cannabis legalization

New Mexico state lawmakers passed a bill yesterday to legalize recreational cannabis, making the state the second in the country to approve such legislation this week after New York last Tuesday.

New Mexico lawmakers were nearly reached an agreement last month, but were unable to reach an agreement before the end of the legislative session on March 20. Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was therefore forced to call a special legislative session, which began on Tuesday to complete work on the legalization bill.

State lawmakers also passed a separate measure to expunge the criminal records of individuals previously convicted of certain cannabis-related offenses. Lujan Grisham said she would sign the bills and called the special legislative session a «success» after lawmakers passed the bills.

«This is an important victory for New Mexico. Workers will benefit from the chance to build careers in this new economy. Entrepreneurs will benefit from the opportunity to start new, profitable businesses,» the governor said in a press release published Wednesday. «The state and local governments will benefit from the additional revenue. Consumers will benefit from the standardization and regulation that come with a legitimate industry. And those who have been harmed by the failure of this country’s war on drugs—communities of color disproportionately—will benefit from our state’s new smart, fair, and equitable approach to addressing past low-level convictions.»

 Key Points on the Legalization of Cannabis in New Mexico

Under the Cannabis Regulation Act, adults 21 and older will be permitted to possess or purchase up to two ounces (56 g) of cannabis and to grow up to six cannabis plants, with a total of 12 plants allowed per household. The bill also establishes standards for licensing, taxation, and regulation of businesses involved in the cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of cannabis products. Retail sales of cannabis would begin no later than April 1, 2022, under the bill.

«This is a good bill. This special session has been a success,» Lujan Grisham continued. «And the work to ensure that this industry is a success, that New Mexicans are able to reap all the economic and social benefits of legalized adult-use cannabis, and that safety in the workplace and on the roads is ensured to the greatest extent possible. Change never comes easily and rarely happens as quickly as we’d like.»

The second bill passed Wednesday by New Mexico lawmakers would expunge convictions for offenses that are no longer illegal under the cannabis regulation law.

✅ Senate Bill 2 has received final legislative approval!

This important legislation accompanies the legalization of cannabis and will ensure that New Mexico puts an end to the harmful long-term effects of cannabis conviction records, enabling New Mexicans to build better futures. https://t.co/n226Iuxkhz

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- Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) April 1, 2021

«This important legislation accompanies the legalization of cannabis and will ensure that New Mexico puts an end to the long-term harmful effects of cannabis convictions, allowing New Mexicans to build a better future,» Lujan Grisham wrote on Twitter.