At the next general election, voters may expect to see a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana, a long-gestating initiative that should gain some momentum following the results of Nov. 8’s local elections.
With the newly-elected Democratic majority in both the New Mexico House and Senate, proponents of recreational marijuana predict certain proposed bills will get through the legislature at the next general session in early 2017.
One bill was proposed by state representatives Bill McCamley, D-NM, and Javier Martinez, D-NM, at the special session called in September.
Because special sessions are centered on budget issues, the bill did not receive a vote. However, Martinez said he is hopeful about its outlook in the next session.
“I suspect we’ll get out of committee,” he said, though he pointed out there may be some opposition once the bill goes to the floor.
Even a committee approval will be a win for legalization supporters, but they will have to overcome a history of pushback. Despite numerous similar bills introduced in the House in recent years, none have received much support.
While Martinez and McCamley have introduced a bill, New Mexico Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-NM, has proposed a constitutional amendment, due to opposition by Gov. Susana Martinez.
If a majority of members of both legislative houses in New Mexico vote in favor of the proposed amendment, the proposal will automatically be placed on a statewide election ballot, bypassing the Governor’s office.
Ortiz y Pino noted that all states that have legalized marijuana have done so through a general election vote, which may be partially caused by strict federal regulations on the substance.
California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada will join Colorado, Washington and Oregon as states which have legalized recreational marijuana after Election Day, according to Business Insider, and New Mexico legislators are hoping to join that list in the coming years.
“If we get this on the ballot, it’s going to pass,” Ortiz y Pino said. Polls support his optimistic claim.
In an Albuquerque Journal poll conducted in October, 61 percent of likely voters said they would support a measure to legalize recreational marijuana for adults age 21 and older.
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Despite voter support, previous attempts to pass similar legislation were met with resistance.
Ortiz y Pino’s proposal has been introduced three times before and reached the Senate floor only once, where it was halted with a 23-17 vote against. All Republicans and five Democrats voted against the amendment.
However, three new democratic seats were added in the November election, and to achieve a majority, a bill needs 22 votes.
Supporters of legalization cite potential economic and criminal justice benefits.
“As our understanding of cannabis has expanded, particularly the impact criminalizing has on communities of color, it’s clear it’s time to be proactive on something far less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco,” Martinez said.
Ortiz y Pino also noted taxation and regulation will bring money to the state and undermine criminal syndicates who make the majority of their profit selling marijuana.
He emphasized recreational marijuana may also create a much-needed industry in a state caught in tough economic times, citing improvements in real estate, job production and decreased enforcement costs that would bring the state out of its economic downturn.
A report commissioned by medical marijuana producer Ultra Health found similar results to Ortiz y Pino’s forecast.
The study found a recreational marijuana industry could bring in $412.5 million in revenue for the state after one year. Kelly O’Donnell, who authored the report, found the new industry could create 11,400 jobs in its first year alone.
Despite the support — and legal marijuana’s best chance of arriving in New Mexico in years — Martinez still sees a potential for opposition.
“I don’t know I can promise we’ll get it done this year,” he said about the bill he plans to introduce in the 2017 legislative session.
However, he’s hopeful New Mexico will lead the country as it seeks marijuana legalization.
Brendon Gray is a news reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @notgraybrendon.
