A NUMBER OF MARIJUANA-RELATED BILLS WILL SURFACE AT THE LEGISLATURE THAT STARTS TUESDAY. ALBUQUERQUE STATE SENATOR GERALD ORTIZ Y PINO TELLS US THERE ARE 4 PIECES OF LEGISLATION. HE'LL AGAIN INTRODUCE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL POT FOR ADULTS. IF IT PASSES THE LEGISLATURE, HIS MEASURE WOULD GO TO VOTERS.
ANOTHER MEASURE WOULD LEGALIZE THE DRUG. THERE'S ALSO A BILL TO REDUCE PENALTIES FOR POSSESSING SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA. ORTIZ Y PINO SAYS THE 4TH IS A BILL FROM SENATOR CISCO MCSORELY TO LEGALIZE INDUSTRIAL HEMP PRODUCTION IN NEW MEXICO. HE SAYS IT'S GROWN IN MANY COUNTRIES BUT WAS NEVER GROWN HERE BECAUSE IT WAS LUMPED IN WITH REGULAR POT IN THE 1950S WHEN MARIJUANA WAS MADE ILLEGAL.
MCSORELY'S HEMP BILL IS THE ONE ORTIZ Y PINO THINKS MIGHT SURVIVE THE LEGISLATURE.
THE 60 DAY SESSION STARTS TUESDAY AT NOON.
