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From thedailychronic.net
New Mexico Senate Kills Effort to Send Marijuana Legalization to Voters
By Thomas H. Clarke | The Daily Chronic
SANTA FE, NM The New Mexico Senate has defeated a proposal that would have allowed voters to decide if the state should legalize, tax and regulate marijuana for adults.
In a 17-24 vote Sunday evening, the Senate voted against Senate Joint Resolution 5, sponsored by state Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque).
The bill would have placed the issue of marijuana legalization to a public vote this November, asking voters to amend the New Mexico constitution to allow adults 25 or older to lawfully possess and use marijuana for personal use. The proposal originally called for legalizing marijuana for adults 21 or older, but an amendment was adopted prior to the vote to raise the age to 25.
Had voters approved the amendment, it would have required the state legislature to pass laws next year to create a legal retail marijuana industry, including rules for taxing and regulating retail sales and commercial cannabis grows.
The proposal had gained some traction last week, being approved by two key committees before being sent to the Senate floor for a vote in the final days of New Mexicos 2016 regular legislative session, which ends at noon Thursday.
During a 45 minute debate prior to the vote Sunday evening, several Republican members of the Senate spoke against the measure, including Sen. Sander Rue (R-Albuquerque), who feared children would face the possibility of getting a contact high from being around adults smoking marijuana.
Meanwhile, Sen. William Sharer (R-Farmington) claimed that todays marijuana is more potent than in the past, making it more dangerous. Its so potent, it becomes addictive, Sharer said.
Several Democrats spoke in favor of the bill, including Sen. Cisco McSorley (D-Albuquerque), who argued that U.S. citizens should have a right to make their own choices when it comes to cannabis.
If we believe that America should be the land of the free, the only way to do it is to trust the people, McSorley said.
In the vote, six Democrats joined all Senate Republicans in voting against the measure. Democrats hold the majority in the New Mexico Senate, controlling 24 of 42 seats. Had the measure passed the Senate, it is unlikely it would have made it to a floor vote in the House, where Republicans control 37 of the 70 seats.
Statewide polling data released in January found that over 60% of New Mexicans support taxing and regulating the retail sale of marijuana to adults.
New Mexico legalized medical marijuana in 2007.
http://www.thedailychronic.net/2016...ort-to-send-marijuana-legalization-to-voters/
New Mexico Senate Kills Effort to Send Marijuana Legalization to Voters
By Thomas H. Clarke | The Daily Chronic
SANTA FE, NM The New Mexico Senate has defeated a proposal that would have allowed voters to decide if the state should legalize, tax and regulate marijuana for adults.
In a 17-24 vote Sunday evening, the Senate voted against Senate Joint Resolution 5, sponsored by state Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque).
The bill would have placed the issue of marijuana legalization to a public vote this November, asking voters to amend the New Mexico constitution to allow adults 25 or older to lawfully possess and use marijuana for personal use. The proposal originally called for legalizing marijuana for adults 21 or older, but an amendment was adopted prior to the vote to raise the age to 25.
Had voters approved the amendment, it would have required the state legislature to pass laws next year to create a legal retail marijuana industry, including rules for taxing and regulating retail sales and commercial cannabis grows.
The proposal had gained some traction last week, being approved by two key committees before being sent to the Senate floor for a vote in the final days of New Mexicos 2016 regular legislative session, which ends at noon Thursday.
During a 45 minute debate prior to the vote Sunday evening, several Republican members of the Senate spoke against the measure, including Sen. Sander Rue (R-Albuquerque), who feared children would face the possibility of getting a contact high from being around adults smoking marijuana.
Meanwhile, Sen. William Sharer (R-Farmington) claimed that todays marijuana is more potent than in the past, making it more dangerous. Its so potent, it becomes addictive, Sharer said.
Several Democrats spoke in favor of the bill, including Sen. Cisco McSorley (D-Albuquerque), who argued that U.S. citizens should have a right to make their own choices when it comes to cannabis.
If we believe that America should be the land of the free, the only way to do it is to trust the people, McSorley said.
In the vote, six Democrats joined all Senate Republicans in voting against the measure. Democrats hold the majority in the New Mexico Senate, controlling 24 of 42 seats. Had the measure passed the Senate, it is unlikely it would have made it to a floor vote in the House, where Republicans control 37 of the 70 seats.
Statewide polling data released in January found that over 60% of New Mexicans support taxing and regulating the retail sale of marijuana to adults.
New Mexico legalized medical marijuana in 2007.
http://www.thedailychronic.net/2016...ort-to-send-marijuana-legalization-to-voters/
