The chances of legalization passing in New Mexico just got cut in half as House Bill 89, which would have legalized marijuana for adult use throughout the state, was brought to an end in the House Business and Industry Committee this week with a 9-1 vote against it. The committee spent hours debating the bill before their vote – after which even 4 Democrats decided to vote against it, saying they aren’t sure it’s the right thing to do for their state right now.
Representative Bill McCamley, who sponsored the bill, fought to have lawmakers realize that legalization is truly just a matter of time and there are a number of benefits to removing prohibition in the state. Things like job creation, much needed tax revenue for the state and the ability to allocate resources in law enforcement to more serious crimes that need to be addressed were all brought up – but the fear of possible repercussions was enough for lawmakers to stop the bill in its tracks.
“This is going to happen, whether it’s this year or 10 years from now,” McCamley said.
House Bill 89 would have made possession, cultivation and the use of cannabis legal for adults 21 and older, creating a regulated system that would have been taxed at 15% – with the option for local governments at the city and county level to levy an additional tax if they chose to. The tax was lower than some states’ overall excise tax on cannabis, which would have been helpful in the initial growth of the industry as the low prices could drive out illegal sales more easily.
“Even a 20 percent total tax is still lower than most of the other states that are doing this,” McCamley said.
In the end, the bill will not make it any further during this 60 day legislative session – due to concerns such as a possible increase of use amongst children (whether accidental or intentional), as well as Representative Debbie Rodella citing the number of homeless she saw on a trip to Colorado and wondering whether or not that is a consequence of legalization.
However, these so called “social ills” have not been definitely connected to legalization. After legalization parents could be more willing to seek professional advice rather than Google after a child accidentally eats their edibles, for example – meaning incidences have not increased, but perhaps people could be more honest about it now. On the other hand, the many benefits have definitely been seen in each of the states to legalize so far.
Now New Mexico has one more chance to legalize marijuana during this session through a very similar bill in the Senate – but even if it makes it out of the Senate there is no guarantee that the House would treat it any differently than they did this one, though we can still hope.
Dam Once again some of our Elected folks REFUSE to Do What is GREAT for NM Citizens. Instead of Revising our Election Requirements, LIKE any presidential Candidates Requirements should BE 1. All Presidential Candidates MUST Release all Tax Returns and Business Dealing around the World, 2. All Future Presidential Candidates, MUST BE Real Natural Born Americans, For examples When you were Born was Your First breath on American Soil was your Mother on American Soil Natural Born Meaning was your Mother ON USA Soil, Like ted cruz This tea party Bigot is NOt a True natural BORN American Citizen, His Father is Not a Natural Born citizen and ted Cruz Mother had already Renounced Her American Citizen ship, Even if thee parents are Citizens and Living else where Living on OTHER Than American Soil, Thee Child born to American Citizens But born else where NOT REAL TRUE American soil This person or persons should NOT be allowed to Have there names or allowed to seek President Office, And Banned from Campaigning in New Mexico. Exceptions should be If parents are serving in Military In another Country That child should be an American Citizen BUT Banned from Seeking Thee office of President Of USA, NO EXEMPTIONS . NOT a Natural Born USA Citizen. 3. Marijuana should Be Legalized in New Mexico, Thee False Stigma about Marijuana USE is FALSE, Debbie Rodella a NM Rep States That thee reason Thee homeless Folks are Homeless BECAUSE THEY all Smoke Marijuana and Marijuana is thee reason Thee people are Homeless Debbie R Did you STOP and ask these Homeless People why they were Homeless or did you JUST DRIVE by and ASSUME in your Empty Brain? ” OH Look at all These Marijuana SMOKERS , No You did NOT Debbie Rodella You did What most Republican Politicians have done these past 20 years NOTHING, But your Republican Tea Party Do NOTHING congress continues down thee Path of Tax breaks repealing Obama care, Waste Millions of AMERICAN Tax dollars with Benghazi Hearing and Hearings on Bullshit meaningless Hearings, Your Republican party OBSTRUCTED President Obama. Republicans REFUSED Infrastructure Money to rebuild Fix our Streets Highways, STOP BIG Pharma company’s from Ripping off Americans, YET YOU Debbie Rodella and your Tea Party Republican Racist Bigoted American Domestic Terrorist Party REFUSe To do anything to Help Us Thee American Middle Class citizens, Just like you Debbie Rodella and that other Worthless Trash Steve pierce Thee do NOTHINg DRIVE BY NM Representatives Like You Debbie Rodella That’s a Dam Shame That’s your Republicans problem all you Folks do is Drive BY in OUR tax dollar provided Vehicles and make foolish assumptions OH LOOk at all THEM Homeless FOLKS, Its That DAM Marijuana Its thee Marijuana Its Thee Mexicans Its Thee Muslims There all On Marijuana, And you continue to do what You Debbie Rodella and your Republicans have done these past 16 Years Collect a Tax payer Check drive by In OUR American Tax dollar Vehicles and BLAME Everyone else for your Failures and do NOTHING Except HELp your Kind with Tax breaks cover up Illegal Conduct like that IDIOt d trump and his Russian Ties, YOu REFUSE to DEMAND d trump release his tax returns You republicans held over 40 votes to REpeal Obama care. So Debbie Rodella and steve pierce you Republicans JUST DRIVE BY our communities streets citys and DO NOTHINg And make UP LIES just like d trump and his Racist Treason Perjury Hatefull BS Everyone else is at Fault You blame Us for your Failures, Well come 2018 I will NOT BE Driving by Election POLLS I will Take ACTION Get out of my Vehicle and VOTE, And do my best to also EXPOSE You and your republican do nothing LIARS and DEFEAT you and republicans from thee Congress and Local States, 1 more thing Debbie drive by Rodella, Yes we will all be VOTING and Smoking Marijuana while we drive Your Sorry ASS out of Office. Drive By Debbie Rodella Blames Marijuana Smokers for LOOSING her NM State office, I will smoke to that. Debbie Rodella steve pierce Blame Marijuana smokers for Homeless Citizens. No We Blame You 2 republicans for Doing Nothing.