KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS LIVE AT 10:00 STARTS RIGHT NOW. DOUG: MAKING MARIJUANA LEGAL FOR ANYONE 21 AND OLDER IN NEW MEXICO. WELL, THERE IS NOW A PLAN IN THE HANDS OF LAWMAKERS. SHELLY: ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER JUSTIN MATTHEWS JOINS US LIVE TO SHOW US WHAT LEGAL POT MAY LOOK LIKE IF IT PASSES AT THE UPCOMING SESSION. JUSTIN? JUSTIN: THIS 16-PAGE REPORT IS A BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE INGREDIENTS EXPERTS SAY WILL MAKE FOR THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE AND SAFEST WAY FOR NEW MEXICANS 21 AND OLDER TO USE MARIJUANA. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA? >> I SAY GO FOR IT. >> I WOULDN’T RECOMMEND OR SUPPORT DIRECT RELATIONAL PROGRAM. >> I DO THINK IT HAS A MEDICAL PLACE, BUT I’M NOT SURE ABOUT THE RELATIONAL BECAUSE I’VE NEVER TRIED IT MY WHOLE LIFE. JUSTIN: GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM PUT TOGETHER A WORK GROUP THIS PAST SUMMER TO LOOK INTO A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE PASSED WITHOUT YOU GOING TO THE VOTING BOOTH. AFTER 100 DAYS OF MEETINGS AND STUDIES, THE GROUP GAVE THE GOVERNOR ITS PROPOSAL, FOR WHAT THEY’RE CALLING A MARIJUANA PROGRAM UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE COUNTRY. IT SAYS THE MEDICAL PROGRAM WON’T GO ANYWHERE, AND WILL BE TAX FREE FOR PATIENTS BECAUSE THE REVENUE FROM RECREATIONAL SALES WILL HELP FUND IT. >> IN OTHER STATES, THE RELATIONAL PROGRAM CANNIBALIZE HIS MEDICAL AND PATIENT ACCESS BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT MORE MONEY TO BE MADE ON ADULT USE. WHAT I’M SAYING YOU CAN’T EVEN GO TO ADULT USE UNLESS YOU TAKE CARE OF MEDICAL PATIENTS FIRST, AND IF THERE IS EVER A SHORTAGE, IT IS FOR THEM FIRST. WE ARE MAKING THAT DISTINCTION. JUSTIN: DAVIS SAYS THE TAX REVENUE FROM RECREATIONAL SALES IN THE FIRST YEAR WILL BE MORE THAN $60 MILLION. >> WE WANT TO USE THESE NEW REVENUES TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC IN TERMS OF NEW MEXICO’S BIG ISSUES WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. JUSTIN: AND WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY GO? A BIG CHUNK TOWARD LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS. NEARLY HALF WOULD GO TOWARD PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING DWI PREVENTION, HOUSING, AND EDUCATION. WITHIN THE RECOMMENDATION THERE’S A QUOTE BY SIERRA COUNTY SHERIFF GLEN HAMILTON, SAYING IF YOU FIND A BILL SHERIFFS, THE ACLU, AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS CAN ALL LIVE WITH, YOU SHOULD PASS IT. >> IS THIS IT? >> THIS IS IT. JUSTIN: NOW THAT THE REPORT IS OUTCOME IT WILL BE GOING TO LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES NEXT MONTH, THEN IT WILL BE VOTED ON AT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN JANUARY. LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE, JUSTIN MATTHEWS, KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. SHELLY: GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM SAYS SHE IS
Legal cannabis in New Mexico closer to reality
A work group of 22 policy leaders from across the state completed their recommendation to the Governor about what a recreational marijuana program would look like
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Updated: 10:15 PM MDT Oct 16, 2019
Making marijuana legal for anyone 21 and older in New Mexico is now in the hands of our elected officials, after a Governor-appointed work group finished drafting its recommendations for what a recreational marijuana program would look like."In other states,the the recreational program just cannibalizes medical, and patients lose access because there's a lot more money to be made on adult use," said Pat Davis, the chairman of the Governor's work group on recreational marijuana. "We're saying, you can't even go to adult use unless you take care of your medical patients first and if there's ever a shortage, patients are first in line and that's because for them, it's medicine; it's not something fun to do on a Friday afternoon after work."Tax revenue from recreational sales in the first year will be more than $60 million, according to the report."We want to use these new revenues to really change the dynamic in terms of New Mexico's big issues without raising taxes," Davis said.A big chunk of revenue will go toward law enforcement programs and nearly half would go toward public health programs including DWI prevention, housing, and education, the report says.Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's office issued a statement on her behalf, saying, "(she) is pleased that the working group incorporated her priorities for any potential legalization bill into their study, namely: Rigorous protections for the medical program, public safety and workplace concerns, clear labeling and other areas. The governor will be reviewing the recommendations, and the next steps will be to incorporate the recommendations of this working group into balanced legislation and working to win the support of legislators and stakeholders ahead of the session." If it passes during the legislative session in January, New Mexico would be the second state to pass recreational marijuana without voters' approval.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Making marijuana legal for anyone 21 and older in New Mexico is now in the hands of our elected officials, after a Governor-appointed work group finished drafting its recommendations for what a recreational marijuana program would look like.
"In other states,the the recreational program just cannibalizes medical, and patients lose access because there's a lot more money to be made on adult use," said Pat Davis, the chairman of the Governor's work group on recreational marijuana. "We're saying, you can't even go to adult use unless you take care of your medical patients first and if there's ever a shortage, patients are first in line and that's because for them, it's medicine; it's not something fun to do on a Friday afternoon after work."
Tax revenue from recreational sales in the first year will be more than $60 million, according to the report.
"We want to use these new revenues to really change the dynamic in terms of New Mexico's big issues without raising taxes," Davis said.
A big chunk of revenue will go toward law enforcement programs and nearly half would go toward public health programs including DWI prevention, housing, and education, the report says.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's office issued a statement on her behalf, saying, "(she) is pleased that the working group incorporated her priorities for any potential legalization bill into their study, namely: Rigorous protections for the medical program, public safety and workplace concerns, clear labeling and other areas. The governor will be reviewing the recommendations, and the next steps will be to incorporate the recommendations of this working group into balanced legislation and working to win the support of legislators and stakeholders ahead of the session."
If it passes during the legislative session in January, New Mexico would be the second state to pass recreational marijuana without voters' approval.
