10/18/18

New Mexico edging closer to legal cannabis


Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber said he will lobby the New Mexico Legislature to propel legalization and with Michelle Lujan Grisham closer to being governor it’s looking likelier.
In an interview, Webber said there are numerous reasons for New Mexico to join the other states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use. “It is broadly supported, it is a new source of revenue and by making it legal, we will stop wasting our law enforcement resources on something that is really a victimless crime,” he said, adding that the state should still be concerned about youth using marijuana, as well as people who “overindulge.” “I think it’s an intelligent step, and the state, I think, would be well served to get in line for legalizing and regulating cannabis,” the mayor added. [Santa Fe New Mexican]
Black market cannabis not tested or subject to regulation makes America and New Mexico less safe.

Michelle Lujan Grisham worked with former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson to legalize cannabis for some patients but Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, signed it into law.
Lujan Grisham said if she is elected governor she would sign a recreational cannabis bill into law if it included certain conditions. One of the conditions she would require is that the bill provides protection for medical cannabis, which often has lower levels of THC than recreational cannabis. She said the bill would need to include regulation of edibles. [Farmington Daily Times]
It is the view of this blog that edibles should only be available to patients suffering from debilitating diseases, disorders or conditions and be dispensed by pharmacists and taxed like other prescriptions.

Legalizing and regulating a product that so many people enjoy is reasonable public policy aligned with life/safety concerns but giving a monopoly to Ultra Health only feeds Big Dope.

My preference is craft growers would also be marketers like vineyards and brewers subject to state inspections. Revenue debate needs to be done in committee in concert with tribal officials interested in forging compacts.

2 comments:

Wesley Ismay said...

I really enjoy your Facebook updates on SD.

I recently went off the grid buying some vacant land in Utah. Not sure if cannabis should be legal nationwide as there tends to be many life losers in their 20s who travel to Vegas or Denver to get high then destroy the environment of locals who have lived there for decades.

Not sure what the solution is to that. Live and let live I suppose. I tend towards libertarian persuasion but tis nice to read educated thoughts from other sectors as well.

So thanks!

larry kurtz said...

Thanks for your comment, Wes! I self-identify as a progressive Democrat with civil libertarian leanings.