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New Mexico mulls state-run pot shops, subsidized medical use Written by Morgan Lee/The Associated Press | Mar 12, 2019 9:23 AM(Santa Fe, N.M.) -- New Mexico would become the first U.S. state to set up its own government-operated marijuana stores and subsidize medical cannabis for the poor under a bill brokered between Republicans and Democrats, as a new wave of states weighs legislation that would legalize recreational sales and consumption.
Those provisions were sown into Democrat-sponsored legislation that contains currents of social justice, including a provision to subsidize medical cannabis for poor people with "debilitating medical conditions" who might not otherwise be able to afford treatment. Tax dollars from recreational marijuana sales would fund employment and counseling programs in communities "disproportionately affected by past federal and state drug policies," including training to enter the marijuana sector.
Ten states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana -- all by ballot initiative except Vermont, which allowed for personal use and growing but is still debating whether to authorize commercial production and sales.
Other legislative efforts to legalize recreational marijuana are underway in New York and New Jersey, while a bill to legalize recreational cannabis in Democrat-dominated Hawaii fizzled last week.
http://www.witf.org/news/2019/03/new-mexico-mulls-state-run-pot-shops-subsidized-medical-use.php
real Cannabis calm
(1,124 posts)OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)I'm 100% for legal cannabis in all forms for both recreational and medical use. I haven't smoked any in almost 35 years but when recreational is legal here I will light up a big ol' bong. After that I may use occasionally but probably not smokable.
real Cannabis calm
(1,124 posts)Although Republican conservatives have traditionally blocked legislation to decriminalize, or legalize marijuana, right-wing media and Republican politicians are crediting the party with leading the charge for legalization. I read an article from a Texas newspaper that claimed Republicans in the New Mexican legislature sponsored the bill, which is untrue.
OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)who smoke weed. I expect they lean more libertarian but they solidly vote R.
I am also not surprised they would try to take credit for something now that they see the green tide turning.
real Cannabis calm
(1,124 posts)After most things become popular, politicians jump on the bandwagon; but some Republican politicians are hampered, when it comes to marijuana, because they need Evangelical support.
Marijuana = money. It's that simple.