28 • NOVEMBER 2016
www.desertexposure.com
GROWING CONCERNS ï BILLY HUNTSMAN
Fighting for a Healthy Breath National group advocates the social, economic benefits of legalizing marijuana
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national marijuana legalization advocacy organization is hosting a series of informational meetings throughout the state prior to the 2017 Legislative Session. The Drug Policy Alliance came to New Mexico in 2000, encouraged by former Governor Gary Johnson’s pro-legalization platform. Headquartered in New York, DPA has additional offices in New Jersey, California, Washington, D.C. and Colorado. “The DPA’s legislative successes in New Mexico include helping pass the medical cannabis law,” said Jessica Gelay, DPA policy coordinator and the presenter at an Oct. 12 DPA meeting at Doña Ana Community College – East Mesa. Because of the medical cannabis law, which was approved in 2007 by former Gov. Bill Richardson, more than 30,000 people in New Mexico have access to medical marijuana, Gelay said. Beyond medical marijuana, the DPA is looking to totally legalize marijuana for adult use, Gelay said. There are two ways marijuana could be legalized in New Mexico, Gelay said. One is a constitutional amendment that would have to be passed by both the New Mexico Senate and the House of Representatives before the people could vote it into law. The second way would require legislation to be passed by the state legislature and then presented to the governor for her signature. “At this point, we don’t have support from our current governor,” said Gelay. Gelay said legalizing adult-use marijuana in New Mexico could have substantial benefits, such as addressing the massive budget deficit the state is facing. By the end of fiscal year 2016, the state had a budget shortfall of $150 million. By the end of fiscal year 2017, the shortage is estimated to be an additional $300 to $500 million. Gelay said, while not a cure-all for the state’s budget difficulties, legalizing mar-
ijuana would substantially reduce the deficit. In the first year, the DPA estimates legalized marijuana business could generate $410 million in commerce. By the fifth year of legalized business, the industry could be worth more than $740 million in the state. Legalizing marijuana would create about 11,000 jobs, Gelay said, as a result of the dispensaries that would open up. Further, if legalized marijuana sales were to be taxed like alcohol and cigarettes, the tax revenues could be used to fund early childhood education; funding for public addiction treatment centers, police and corrections officers; as well as contribute to the state’s general fund, which disburses capital outlay funds for public works. The Oct. 12 meeting’s audience of about 50 people all greatly supported these and other avenues that could benefit from marijuana tax revenues. Whether “adult-use” should mean 18 or 21, the audience was divided over. Most in the audience agreed, however, that under 18 should not be allowed to use marijuana. For those worried about more young children using marijuana if legalized, Gelay’s presentation presented the findings of a University of Colorado – Boulder report: In 2009, 25 percent of under-18 individuals surveyed said they had tried marijuana at least once in the last 30 days. By 2011, that number decreased to 22 percent, by 2013 — the year marijuana was legalized in Colorado — the number dropped again to 20 percent, and in 2015 rose to 21 percent. Many states, such as California, Nevada and Arizona, are voting this month whether to legalize recreational marijuana. New Mexico is not among these. Marijuana use is completely legal in Colorado, Alaska, Oregon and Washington State. Some states, Pennsylvania, New York and New Mexico among them, have legalized medical marijuana. A number of states are voting in November whether to legalize medical Marijuana — Louisiana, Florida and Missouri. Other states have no legislation regarding legalizing marijuana — including Texas, Utah, Mississippi and Alabama. The DPA’s next meetings will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Albuquerque at the South Valley Multipurpose Center from 5 to 7 p.m. More information can be found at www.GrowNM.org or by contacting Gelay at nm@drugpolicy.org or at 505983-3277.