Friday, January 17, 2020

Cannabis legalization bill filed in New Mexico

New Mexico Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed After Governor Puts Issue On 2020 Agenda | Marijuana Moment - Kyle Jaeger:

January 16, 2020 - "One day after the governor of New Mexico formally included marijuana legalization in her 2020 legislative agenda, lawmakers have filed a comprehensive reform bill that would accomplish that goal.

"The legislation, introduced by Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D) and Rep. Javier Martinez (D), would allow adults in the state to possess and purchase cannabis from licensed retailers. It also includes a number of restorative justice and social equity provisions, such as automatically expunging prior marijuana possession convictions, promoting participation in the market by small and tribal-owned businesses and providing for microbusiness licenses.

"If the measure successfully moves through the legislature and arrives on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s (D) desk, New Mexico is all but certain to become the 12th state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana, as lawmakers are convening for a short, 30-day session that starts on January 21.

"While home growing would not be legally permitted under the bill, its provisions would decriminalize the activity by making cultivation of up to three plants and six seedlings punishable by a $50 fine without the threat of jail time. Anything more than that amount would be considered a fourth degree felony....

"There are other unique provisions of the legislation. For example, it would eliminate the gross receipts tax for medical cannabis sales, mandate that recreational dispensaries service registered patients and create a subsidy program for low-income patients to access marijuana.... The 173-page bill contains a number of other regulations ... including strict advertising rules and labeling and packaging requirements. A nine percent excise tax would be imposed on recreational cannabis sales....

"The governor ran on legalizing cannabis in 2018, but while reform legislation did pass the full House of Representatives as well as a Senate committee, it ultimately stalled. Lujan Grisham later formed a working group to study the issue and make recommendations, and that panel released a report in October stating that legalization legislation should include automatic expungements and provisions to promote equity in the industry. The group also commissioned a poll that came out last month showing that 75 percent of New Mexicans are in favor of legalization."

Read more: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-mexico-marijuana-legalization-bill-filed-after-governor-puts-issue-on-2020-agenda/
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