N.M. considers rebooted plan to make recreational pot legal

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico would legalize recreational marijuana sales without exceptions for dissenting cities and counties under a rebooted plan from legislators that stresses small-business opportunities and ready access to pot for 80,000 current medical cannabis patients.

Legalization for the first time enjoys the full support of second-year Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who set up a volunteer commission last year to vet health and public safety concerns about recreational cannabis and on Thursday pitched the benefits of the pot economy to a gathering of business leaders.

The Legislature convenes Tuesday for a 30-day session with Democrat-authored plans listed high on the agenda by allied majority leaders in both chambers.

Under mirror legalization bills filed this week in the House and Senate, the proliferation of licensed marijuana growers, processors, retailers and transporters would be overseen by the state, but counties and cities would keep control over local zoning restrictions and hours of dispensary operation.

The system aims to stamp out the black market and avoid a regulatory patch-quilt while giving local jurisdictions the right levy their own taxes on marijuana sales.

Every recreational dispensary would be required to offer medical marijuana to patients who qualify under a list of medical conditions such as cancer, post-traumatic stress and chronic pain. New Mexico founded its medical cannabis program in 2007.

That provision responds to evidence of escalating prices and scarce offerings for medical marijuana in states including Oregon that have authorized recreational marijuana. No state yet requires medical cannabis sales at pot shops, said Carly Wood, state policies coordinator at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Some taxes would be waived on medical cannabis, and poor patients would be offered subsidies.

House Minority Whip Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, said it would be unfair to force counties into allowing marijuana businesses when local elected officials don’t want the industry.

“Even with alcohol we allow counties to opt out in New Mexico,” he said.

Morgan Lee The Associated Press file Korbin Osborn, left, works as a cannabis adviser at a medical marijuana dispensary in Santa Fe, N.M. A legislative plan would legalize recreational pot in the state.