New Mexico: Assembly approves plan to legalize cannabis

The New Mexico House of Representatives approved a bill last Friday to cannabis legalization in the state.

The bill would allow adults aged 21 and older to possess «at least» 2 ounces (56 g) of cannabis and to grow up to 6 mature plants and 6 immature plants for personal use. It was approved by a vote of 39 to 31.

Democratic Representative Javier Martinez introduced the bill in the House. «When I first got involved in this work years ago, I realized that, for me, legalizing recreational cannabis isn’t about the money,» he said before the vote. «It’s an excellent source of revenue for the state, but that’s not why I’m doing this.»

«Legalizing adult cannabis use will likely be good for tourism. Legalization will likely be beneficial in terms of job creation and a new local industry,» he said. «But really, when you get down to the core of why I’m doing this and why I’ve been working on it for so long, it’s because I’ve seen the faces of the people who have been most affected by this terrible, unwinnable war on drugs. It’s a war we cannot win.»

State Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had included the legalization of cannabis in her 2021 legislative agenda. She recently stated that she remains «very optimistic» about legalization during the current legislative session.

Neighboring Arizona voted to legalize cannabis last November. Sales have officially been launched late January.

New Mexico also shares another thing in common with Colorado, one of the first states to legalize adult use. Cannabis should also be legalized across the border In southern Mexico, lawmakers are facing a Supreme Court order to lift the ban by April.

Last year, a bill to legalize cannabis for adult use was passed by a New Mexico Senate committee only to be rejected by someone else before the end of the 30-day period.