Top New Mexico Lawmaker Is Hopeful State Can Legalize Marijuana In 2021 Session

A top New Mexico lawmaker said on Wednesday that the legislature will again attempt to advance marijuana legalization next session—and while the state is far from the first out of the gate in ending prohibition, it will have the benefit of drawing lessons from other jurisdictions that have already enacted the policy change.

He also discussed the benefits of decriminalizing all drugs more broadly.

During a livestream event, House Speaker Brian Egolf (D) spoke with Rep. Javier Martinez (D) and the Drug Policy Alliance’s (DPA) Emily Kaltenbach about the need for cannabis reform and plans to achieve it in the coming 2021 session. The panel also took a series of questions from viewers about potential provisions of legalization legislation and the prospects of advancing the bill on a bipartisan basis, among other topics.