The Senate Judiciary Committee met on March 18 to discuss several different bills in the works, including HB 12. HB 12 passed the full House chamber and is now currently awaiting a hearing in the full Senate. This will be the hardest committee of the New Mexico Senate for HB 12 to pass.

When it came to creating a legalization bill, this is not New Mexico’s first attempt. Last year, the same Senate committee tabled a legalization bill, SB 115. Each time a recreational marijuana legalization bill has come to this committee, it seems to die. Surprisingly, many democratic lawmakers, who typically push for marijjuana legalization, say these bills haven’t been prepared well. Senator Joseph Cervantes (D), chairman of the Judiciary committee, went on to say, “I just don’t think your bill has been very carefully read.”

With a final vote of 5-4, HB 12 received a do pass from the Senate Judiciary Committee with amendments. 

HB 12 Amendments

The Judiciary Committee added three major amendments to HB 12.

• Producers and Manufacturers cannot also own a testing facility. There would be a conflict of interest
• A temporary plant limit is for the first three years to allow for all growers and producers to work on the same playing field. It also allows the state to gather data from other states to make sure their program is working efficiently and effectively.
• Entrepreneurs cannot own multiple sale and producer licenses. This is in order to curb large companies from dominating the young growing market and keep small local businesses out.

There’s a holdup for some lawmakers. Social equity and cannabis legalization are currently part of the same bill. The creator of HB 12, Representative Javier Martinez (D), said that social equity is the backbone of his bill. There can’t be cannabis legalization without social equity. That would hinder the development of the market. Small businesses, who are the backbone of HB 12, wouldn’t be able to enter into the market fairly. That’s why Representative Martinez is pushing for social equity. 

Future

A full Senate vote is expected Friday March 19. The Legislation period ends Saturday March 20 and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) wants a bill on her desk by then. She has been calling for marijuana legalization since her State of the State speech at the beginning of the year. 

The other bill in the Senate, a stricter version of HB 12 titled SB 288, became tabled indefinitely as the Senate works to decide on HB 12 and the state of recreational marijuana for the state of New Mexico.

Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.