New Mexico governor’s commission reviewing recreational cannabis

A bipartisan group appointed by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to study legalizing recreational marijuana is moving forward with two public policy meetings this month.

The group was scheduled to meet in Albuquerque Wednesday to hear from officials from the state’s current medical cannabis program and from marijuana licensing experts.

A second meeting is scheduled in Las Cruces on Aug. 28.

Here’s some background:

• Legalization advocates such as the Marijuana Policy Project view New Mexico as one of the more promising states to legalize recreational marijuana in the next couple of years.
• Grisham, a Democrat, has said she supports adult-use legalization, as long as public safety is ensured.
• Legislation to authorize and tax recreational marijuana sales at state-run stores passed the state House this year, but stalled in the Senate.
• The governor’s committee of state leaders and local regulators  already toured five medical cannabis dispensaries to learn more about the industry, according to KOAT, an Albuquerque TV station.
• New Mexico commission members also are slated to visit Colorado to meet with state regulators in that state.

– Associated Press and Marijuana Business Daily