T
The420Guy
Guest
SANTA FE -- Two Albuquerque lawmakers, one a Democrat and the other a
Republican, have agreed to sponsor two marijuana-related bills
proposed by Gov. Gary Johnson.
Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, agreed to sponsor the most
controversial of the Republican governor's eight proposals:
decriminalizing possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for
personal use.
Rep. Joe Thompson, R-Albuquerque, agreed to sponsor a bill that would
allow the use of marijuana for treating certain patients suffering
from cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma and some other illnesses.
In a brief interview Thursday, McSorley confirmed he would sponsor
the decriminalization bill in the Senate. He did not return phone
calls requesting comment Thursday and Friday.
McSorley was a member of Johnson's Drug Policy Advisory Group, which
recommended drug policy changes focusing on prevention, education and
treatment.
Johnson proposed eight bills to revamp New Mexico's drug policies
based on the group's recommendations. Along with medical marijuana
and decriminalization, the proposals include reducing sentences for
nonviolent drug offenders, implementing "harm reduction" policies and
making syringes easily available for drug addicts.
No House members have publicly confirmed if they would carry the
marijuana decriminalization bill.
The governor proposes to decriminalize possession of up to 1 ounce of
marijuana, treating it like a traffic violation that would be subject
to a civil fine but no arrest, jail time or criminal record.
Thompson said he has not found a House co-sponsor for his medical
marijuana bill.
But he added, "A lot of them indicated they would vote for the bill.
... More people have been encouraging than discouraging."
A 1978 New Mexico law allows medical marijuana as part of a research
project, but nothing has been funded for more than a decade.
Thompson said he plans to introduce his medical marijuana bill as
early as next week.
His bill would allow physicians to recommend and patients to receive
marijuana when medically appropriate. It also would allow the state
to maintain a registry of patients approved for the treatment and
their physicians.
Steve Jenison, a physician with the Infectious Disease Bureau of the
Health Department, said the medical marijuana bill probably would be
similar to one enacted in Hawaii.
The Hawaii law, Jenison said, allows a certified medical marijuana
patient to buy the drug on the black market or cultivate small
amounts at his or her home.
Jenison guessed there are between 50 and 100 patients in New Mexico
at any time who would qualify for medical marijuana.
The Washington-based National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws, or NORML, began airing radio ads this week in support
of the drug law changes.
Newshawk: Sledhead
Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jan 2001
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque Journal
Contact: opinion@abqjournal.com
Address: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103
Website: The Albuquerque Journal
Author: S.U. Mahesh
Republican, have agreed to sponsor two marijuana-related bills
proposed by Gov. Gary Johnson.
Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, agreed to sponsor the most
controversial of the Republican governor's eight proposals:
decriminalizing possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for
personal use.
Rep. Joe Thompson, R-Albuquerque, agreed to sponsor a bill that would
allow the use of marijuana for treating certain patients suffering
from cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma and some other illnesses.
In a brief interview Thursday, McSorley confirmed he would sponsor
the decriminalization bill in the Senate. He did not return phone
calls requesting comment Thursday and Friday.
McSorley was a member of Johnson's Drug Policy Advisory Group, which
recommended drug policy changes focusing on prevention, education and
treatment.
Johnson proposed eight bills to revamp New Mexico's drug policies
based on the group's recommendations. Along with medical marijuana
and decriminalization, the proposals include reducing sentences for
nonviolent drug offenders, implementing "harm reduction" policies and
making syringes easily available for drug addicts.
No House members have publicly confirmed if they would carry the
marijuana decriminalization bill.
The governor proposes to decriminalize possession of up to 1 ounce of
marijuana, treating it like a traffic violation that would be subject
to a civil fine but no arrest, jail time or criminal record.
Thompson said he has not found a House co-sponsor for his medical
marijuana bill.
But he added, "A lot of them indicated they would vote for the bill.
... More people have been encouraging than discouraging."
A 1978 New Mexico law allows medical marijuana as part of a research
project, but nothing has been funded for more than a decade.
Thompson said he plans to introduce his medical marijuana bill as
early as next week.
His bill would allow physicians to recommend and patients to receive
marijuana when medically appropriate. It also would allow the state
to maintain a registry of patients approved for the treatment and
their physicians.
Steve Jenison, a physician with the Infectious Disease Bureau of the
Health Department, said the medical marijuana bill probably would be
similar to one enacted in Hawaii.
The Hawaii law, Jenison said, allows a certified medical marijuana
patient to buy the drug on the black market or cultivate small
amounts at his or her home.
Jenison guessed there are between 50 and 100 patients in New Mexico
at any time who would qualify for medical marijuana.
The Washington-based National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws, or NORML, began airing radio ads this week in support
of the drug law changes.
Newshawk: Sledhead
Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jan 2001
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque Journal
Contact: opinion@abqjournal.com
Address: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103
Website: The Albuquerque Journal
Author: S.U. Mahesh