Gov. Richardson Urges NM Legislature to Pass Medical Marijuana Bill

Excellent news. According to an Albuquerque Journal article, Gov. Bill Richardson has announced his continuing support for NM Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino's medical marijuana bill, SB 238. Excerpts:

Gov. Bill Richardson today urged this year's Legislature to pass Senate Bill 238, a medical marijuana bill titled the "Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act" named in honor of the late Lynn Pierson, who advocated marijuana use while suffering from cancer, and Erin Armstrong, who has been suffering from cancer since being diagnosed as a teen-ager eight years ago.

... "I continue to support a medical marijuana bill that includes proper safeguards to prevent abuse," Richardson said in a news release. "I will work with legislators to get it passed this session to provide this option for New Mexicans suffering from debilitating diseases."

... A similar bill passed the state Senate in last year's session by a 34-6 vote, with 12 Republicans joining 22 Democrats in voting for passage, but the bill died after reaching the House floor in the closing hours of the 2006 session, the Journal has reported.

For more information on this bill and how you can help support it, read our previous post. Having passed both the NM Senate Public Affairs Commitee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, the bill is headed for a vote by the full Senate, probably this Thursday, February 8, 2007.