Post by pavel on Feb 11, 2016 0:57:35 GMT -6
A proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana for recreational use squeaked out of a Senate committee this morning.
The Senate Rules Committee voted 6-4 to pass the Senate Joint Resolution 5 to its next committee without any recommendation. A previous vote to recommend the proposed amendment resulted in a 5-5 party line vote, which means it failed. But in the vote for no recommendation, Republican Sen. Ted Barela voted with Democrats.
The resolution’s sponsor, Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, said the bill would mean law enforcement could focus on serious crimes instead of chasing marijuana smokers. He said the constitutional amendment route would mean state voters would have a say in the issue.
Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, said he is opposed to the measure because he doesn’t like putting it in the state constitution. However, Moores said that California and other states are expected to legalize marijuana this year.
Read more: www.santafenewmexican.com/news/blogs/politics/committee-passes-joint-resolution/article_210c4d9e-d025-11e5-bcd1-c3568f2badf5.html
The Senate Rules Committee voted 6-4 to pass the Senate Joint Resolution 5 to its next committee without any recommendation. A previous vote to recommend the proposed amendment resulted in a 5-5 party line vote, which means it failed. But in the vote for no recommendation, Republican Sen. Ted Barela voted with Democrats.
The resolution’s sponsor, Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, said the bill would mean law enforcement could focus on serious crimes instead of chasing marijuana smokers. He said the constitutional amendment route would mean state voters would have a say in the issue.
Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, said he is opposed to the measure because he doesn’t like putting it in the state constitution. However, Moores said that California and other states are expected to legalize marijuana this year.
Read more: www.santafenewmexican.com/news/blogs/politics/committee-passes-joint-resolution/article_210c4d9e-d025-11e5-bcd1-c3568f2badf5.html