Title:
State legislator wants to repeal medical marijuana
Message:
While it’s not expected to pass, a state legislator has introduced
a
bill that would repeal the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, New Mexico’s medical
cannabis program.
“From what I
understand there are other alternatives,” the repeal bill’s sponsor, State
Representative James Smith (R-Sandia Park) told a local
news team. “I’m not a medical doctor, I don’t pretend to be; I’ve done some
research. Again, I’ll refer to the DEA website, which says there are
other options available.”
Smith did not mention any physicians or medical experts in
New Mexico who favored repeal. The Department of Health has carefully managed
the program since 2007, adding several serious conditions to the list of
qualifying conditions, licensing additional producers to meet supply, and raising
dispensary licensing fees to meet costs.
We’re not sounding the alarm because all indications are
that the legislature stands behind the compassionate law it enacted. Smith, who
likely doesn’t expect his repeal bill to succeed either, has also introduced
separate legislation – HM
53 – which calls for the DOH to conduct a study of the program’s impact.
Stay tuned to these e-mail alerts, or check out our New
Mexico overview, for the latest.
