House Bill 356 titled "Cannabis Regulation Act" was a piece of legislation to legalize cannabis in New Mexico. It was advanced by the House Judiciary Committee for a vote by the full New Mexico House of Representatives on February 22, 2019. It was the first time a legalization bill had been advanced to the New Mexico Legislature for a vote. The bill passed in the House, 36–34, on March 7, 2019.
The corresponding bill in the New Mexico Senate was S.B. 577. A difference between the bills is that under the Senate legislation, cannabis would be sold in state-owned stores. On March 11, the Senate Public Affairs Committee referred the bill to the floor for a vote.
The bill died in the final days of the legislative session when the state Senate Finance Committee, chaired by John Arthur Smith refused to give the bill a hearing.
References
- Dan Boyd (February 23, 2019). "Marijuana legalization bill heads to House floor". Albuquerque Journal.
- Baudisch, Portia (March 3, 2019). "New Mexico closest it has ever been to legalizing recreational cannabis". El Paso, Texas: KFOX-TV.
- Marijuana legalization bill narrowly passes House following Roundhouse debate, Albuquerque, New Mexico: KRQE, March 7, 2019
- The Latest: New Mexico House endorses recreational marijuana, The Associated Press, March 8, 2019 – via Miami Herald
- Senate Bill 577 at New Mexico legislature official website
- Terrell, Steve (February 14, 2019). "GOP senator's bill calls for state-run pot shops". The Santa Fe New Mexican.
- Tom Angell NM legal cannabis bill advances in Senate Marijuana Moment Newsletter, March 11, 2019
- "New Mexico bill to create state-run pot shops appears dead". Associated Press. March 14, 2019 – via Washington Post.
External links
- House Bill 356 at New Mexico legislature official website