Marijuana Amendment Stalls in Committee

Sorry, uncle

The proposed constitutional amendment to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana stalled in the Senate Rules Committee this morning.

Five senators, all Democrats, vote to pass Senate Joint (heh he heh heh) Resolution 10, sponsored by state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, on to the Senate Judiciary Committee with no recommendation.

However, Sen. Clemente Sanchez, D-Grants, joined all four committee Republicans to vote against that. The measure therefore is stuck in Senate Rules, meaning unless someone has a change of mind, it's dead for this session.

Some opponents, like Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, said they are not in favor of arresting people for a few joints. However, Rue and others said they don't think it should be done by constitutional amendment.

Had SJR 10 passed the Legislature, state voters would have decided on the issue in November.

More in tomorrow's New Mexican.