The attempt to legalize marijuana in New Mexico died Monday evening in the House Business and Industry Committee.
House Bill 89, which would have established a regulatory framework for the legal production, processing and sales of marijuana and industrial hemp, was tabled following a debate of about 2 hours in committee.
I think a lot of this is still just this Refer Madness mentality that this is just bad, even though were seeing over time in Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and now there are going to be four other states that are doing this, that it works, said Rep. Bill McCamley, the bills sponsor, on his nightly Facebook report.
McCamley said it is estimated that legalization could create 11,000 new jobs in the first year, and add more than $44 million to state coffers.
This was the third year that McCamley has introduced legislation to legalize marijuana, but he said this was the first time that effort was taken seriously. His previous two bills never got a hearing.
This year the bill made it out of the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee with a no recommendation before being tabled in the Business and Industry Committee. The objections raised this time were the same as in past years: the harmful effects on children, the impact of traffic and the potential water usage of mass commercial production.
The Department of Public Safety noted in opposing the bill that there is no simple means for testing drivers for marijuana intoxication, as there is for alcohol.
The danger to New Mexicos citizens emanating from a whole new category of legalized substances by which individuals could end up driving impaired cannot be overstated, DPS said in commenting on the bill.
The concerns were held by Republicans and Democrats, McCamley said.
Yeah its frustrating, but thats the legislative process. Sometimes it takes years to get things done, he said. It has always been a longshot this year, because the governor has been so against it.
The goal, McCamley said, is to have a strong bill ready in two years when there is a new governor. And, they were able to strengthen the bill this year by working through the committee process, he said.
Weve created a better piece of legislation, so when we have a better governor well have something ready to go, he said.
The bill would have established a 15 percent tax on the marijuana sales, with the money going to public schools (40 percent), substance abuse prevention and mental health care (23 percent), economic development (20 percent), district attorneys and public defenders (both 7.5 percent) and a medical cannabis subsidy program (2 percent).
The bill also would have authorized a 5 percent municipal and 5 percent county tax as well. Based on an analysis of current states where marijuana sales are legal, the staff for the Legislative Finance Committee estimated the tax would have generated $43.3 million by fiscal year 2021.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Bill To Legalize Marijuana Dies In House Committee
Author: Staff
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Website: Las Cruces Sun-News
