New Mexico House Passes Bill Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession
New Mexico’s House voted today to approve a bill decriminalizing cannabis possession.
Today, New Mexico’s House of Representatives, by a vote of 37-33, approved a measure that decriminalizes up to 4 ounces of cannabis, changing it from an arrestable misdemeanor, to a simple civil infraction of no more than $100.
Penalties for possessing 4-8 ounces would also be lowered to include no possibility of jail time, though the charge would remain a misdemeanor. Under current law, possessing 4-8 ounces will net someone up to a year in prison.
A couple weeks back New Mexico’s House Committee on Consumer and Public Affairs passed the measure by a vote of 3-2, coming just a day after new polling showing that a majority in the state support cannabis legalization, and 57% support reducing penalties.
The measure, House Bill 465, now moves to the Senate.
– TheJointBlog.com
Priestess Kandi Ranson
Can you please show us your sources? Thanks
TheJointBlog
Hi Kandi, we got this as a tip from a friend of ours who lives in New Mexico and works at the capitol. Doing a Google search, here’s another article on this measure’s passage through the House, from the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/NM-House-OKs-bill-to-lower-marijuana-penalties-4346105.php
Rhea Graham
Congratulations, New Mexico!