Sante Fe Initiative to Decriminalize Cannabis Qualifies for November Ballot
An initiative to decriminalize cannabis in Santa Fe, New Mexico has officially qualified for this November’s ballot after the city’s clerk certified that enough valid signatures were submitted. The Santa Fe City Council now has the option of either passing the measure into law or putting it to a vote of the people. First, the council has scheduled a public hearing for August 27th.
In total, 10,925 signatures were submitted. Although only 5,754 of these were valid (from registered Sante Fe voters), the number surpasses the 5,673 required signatures.
If approved into law, the initiative – sponsored by ProgressNow NM and Drug Policy Action – would decriminalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis for those 21 and older, making it a simple $25 ticket.
If not approved by the Sante Fe City Council, it will be put to a vote on November 4th.
– TheJointBlog