Second New Mexico Committee Approves Bill to Legalize Hemp With 10 to 1 Vote

Second New Mexico Committee Approves Bill to Legalize Hemp With 10 to 1 Vote

A proposal that would fully legalize hemp in New Mexico has passed its second committee, sending it towards a vote in the full House of Representatives.

House Bill 166 was filed by Representative Rick Little (R). The measure passed the House Agriculture, Water & Wildlife Committee last month. Earlier this week it also passed the House Labor and Economic Development Committee with a 10 to 1 vote.

According to the measure’s officially legislative summary; “House Bill 166 adds new language to the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) to explicitly exclude the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of the plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) concentration of not more than 0.3percent on a dry weight basis, the seeds thereof and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the plant or its seeds.”

The proposal now heads for a vote in the full House of Representatives, where its passage is expected. It will then go to the Senate, where passage will send it to Governor Susana Martinez for final consideration.

Click here for the full text of House Bill 166.