The Compassionate Coalition

New Mexico: Senate Overwhelmingly Approves Medical Marijuana Measure

Santa Fe, NM: Legislation seeking to establish statewide regulations permitting qualified patients to use medicinal cannabis was approved 34 to 7 by the Senate yesterday, and now moves to the House for consideration.

Prior versions of the bill, known as the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act (SB 238), have previously passed both legislative chambers, but fell just short of becoming law. If enacted, the measure would order the state Department of Health to promulgate rules governing the use and distribution of medical cannabis to state-authorized patients.

Supporters of the bill include New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D), who stated yesterday: "I continue to support a medical marijuana bill that includes proper safeguards to prevent abuse. I will work with legislators to get it passed this session to provide this option for New Mexicans suffering from debilitating diseases."

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500 or visit: http://www.drugpolicyalliance.org. Additional information
on SB 238 is available from NORML's "Take Action" center at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=9327106&type=ML. To listen to an
interview with DPA New Mexico's Reena Szczperanski on NORML's Daily AudioStash, visit: http://www.norml.org/audio/audio_stash/NORML_Daily_AudioStash_02_06_2007.mp3