She added that she believes Lamont, who introduced legalization in his budget plan earlier this year, \u201cis going to try exactly that strategy\u201d after the two governors\u2019 chat.<\/p>\n
During a special legislative session in New Mexico earlier this month, lawmakers narrowly pushed a marijuana legalization measure across the finish line<\/a>. In a move designed to muster enough votes to pass the bill, Democratic leaders removed its original criminal justice proposals and packaged them in separate legislation.<\/p>\n While both bills ultimately passed the legislature and have since become law, Lujan Grisham is now recommending to counterparts in other states that they adopt a similar strategy, decoupling legalization from related social justice proposals.<\/p>\n Listen to Lujan Grisham describe her cannabis advice to Lamont, about 22:30 into the audio below:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Lujan Grisham had been asked by podcast cohost Megan Kamerick what advice she would give to other governors or lawmakers working to pass their own legalization laws.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m getting a little paranoid that you guys are listening to my phone calls,\u201d the governor replied jokingly, explaining that she\u2019d had a conversation a day or two earlier with Lamont, whose legalization proposal is currently before lawmakers. Lamont has said he expects voters will decide the issue at the ballot box if the legislature fails to pass his bill.<\/p>\n Lujan Grisham said that Lamont asked for advice following New Mexico\u2019s successful passage of its legalization bill.<\/p>\n \u201cHis issue was, \u2018How do you get the legislature when there are so many issues between the criminal justice or social justice side of things and protecting medical cannabis and launching legalization? I\u2019m finding that it\u2019s such a big undertaking, that I can\u2019t keep the legislature all together, and I certainly can\u2019t get it bipartisan enough,’\u201d Lujan Grisham recalled.<\/p>\n \u201cI did say that I thought it was really smart to separate the bills so that you\u2019ve got a social justice\u2014one\u2019s contingent upon the other\u2014so that you\u2019ve got motivation to move them both,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n In addition to creating thousands of jobs, generating truly impactful revenue, & righting past wrongs of criminalization, New Mexico can lead the nation in cannabis innovation.<\/p>\n I was glad to talk to @NMreport<\/a> about cannabis in New Mexico \u2013 listen here \u2b07\ufe0fhttps:\/\/t.co\/zSw4hUncOV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) April 23, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In general, Lujan Grisham said she tells other governors not to rush into legalization without taking the time to gather facts and invite broad participation.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve already been reaching out and talking to governors about what I think you need to do, and my biggest advice was: Don\u2019t launch into a legislative session without having a year, at least, to really talk with your stakeholders and your legislators about garnering expertise,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a complex set of issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Jason Ortiz, the policy director for the pro-legalization advocacy group CURE CT and a member of a legalization working group assembled by Lamont that issued recommendations on social equity<\/a>, noted that state officials have already had years to discuss the ins and outs of the policy change.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not starting this year, we\u2019ve been debating these details since 2019,\u201d Ortiz told Marijuana Moment on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cThe purpose of legalization is not to make Republicans happy, it\u2019s to end failed policy and make impacted communities whole,\u201d he added. \u201cIf the governor can remain focused on that, he can get a comprehensive bill done this year. If he wastes time trying to court Republicans who don\u2019t support this, he will personally kill legalization with that mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n A competing legalization measure in Connecticut, introduced by Rep. Robyn Porter (D), puts more emphasis on social equity within the cannabis industry. Unlike the governor\u2019s proposal, Porter\u2019s bill would allow home cultivation of up to six cannabis plants and would license social consumption sites. It also includes additional language on cannabis gifting and social equity applicants.<\/p>\n When the bill passed a committee vote late last month<\/a>, Ortiz said reformers were \u201coverjoyed to see an equity-centered legalization bill pass with the support of so many communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Advocates are hopeful language from Porter\u2019s bill could be incorporated into the governor\u2019s legalization proposal<\/a>, which they have said is inadequate as introduced.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, the measure cleared a Judiciary Committee vote<\/a> after being amended by the panel. Other changes to Lamont\u2019s legalization proposal are also expected as the bill makes its way through the legislature.<\/p>\n Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D) said recently that \u201cin principle, equity is important to both the administration and the legislature, and we\u2019re going to work through those details.\u201d<\/p>\n Lamont, for his part, has made a number of recent statements explaining his approach to legalization.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always a scramble about who gets the money and how much for this group versus that group,\u201d he told<\/a> reporters earlier this month, \u201cso I\u2019ll watch that and make sure it stays within the bounds. I think we all agree we want resources to go to the most distressed communities. I want it to go to economic development. I want it to go to mental health and addiction services. As long as we\u2019re broadly within those parameters, I think we\u2019ve got a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n Lamont has indicated he\u2019s open to a range of options on legalization. \u201cYou can\u2019t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,\u201d he said<\/a>, but added that if a bill \u201cdoesn\u2019t meet some basic requirements, you\u2019ll put it off another year just like they have for many years in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Connecticut\u2019s legislature has considered legalization proposals on several occasions in recent years, including a bill that Democrats introduced last year on the governor\u2019s behalf<\/a>. Those bills stalled, however.<\/p>\n Lamont reiterated his support for legalizing marijuana<\/a> during his annual State of the State address in January, stating that he would be working with the legislature to advance the reform this session.<\/p>\n House Speaker Matthew Ritter (D) said in November that legalization in the state is \u201cinevitable.\u201d<\/a> He added later that month that \u201cI think it\u2019s got a 50\u201350 chance of passing<\/a> [in 2021], and I think you should have a vote regardless.\u201d The governor said in an interview earlier this year that he puts the odds of his legislation passing at \u201c60-40 percent chance.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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