The tireless work of Drug Policy Alliance supporters in New Mexico and the Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico staff brought medical marijuana legislation close to passing this year, but the legislative session ended on Saturday before the House could vote on a medical marijuana bill, SB 795. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Cisco McSorley, had already passed the Senate, and Governor Bill Richardson publicly said he would sign it if it passed the House.
 
The bill was on the House calendar last week but was never actually brought to a vote. Another legislator, Rep. Dan Silva, stated that he was working to delay SB 795 because he was having trouble getting a bill of his own heard in the Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Rep. McSorley.
 
Patients and advocates were outraged that politics could stand in the way of a bill that would positively impact so many lives when 81% of New Mexicans believe patients should have access to medical marijuana. However, this legislative session was still a victory for reform, because the question is no longer whether New Mexico should pass medical marijuana legislation, but when. With such strong support and with the momentum built for medical marijuana over the past two months, reform will soon be realized in New Mexico.