I've just returned from a visit to the round house as the New Mexico legislature prepares for their thirty-day special session. Working with the DPA, the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Coalition and various other entities surrounding the cannabis industry, we were able to meet with a great many legislators to discuss our successful medical cannabis program here in New Mexico. We wanted to update legislators on the progress of the program and to get a feel for how the level of support may have changed now that we are the status quo. To sum up our findings I'd say that we can be cautiously optimistic.
However (and there is always an however) it is imperative that the patients, producers and supporters of the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program understand the ramifications of the recent redistricting decisions. There is a buzz going on talking about how New Mexico's legislature may lean Republican for the first time since 1913. If this happens, the program as we know it may end. That would happen as early as February 2013. This coming election in November will virtually decide the fate of our program. That's scary.
Tell everyone you know who supports the program to do their best to get the word out and work hard for the politicians and candidates who support our cause. It is absolutely crucial that we all pull together and work to be sure that our program is protected. We will begin to provide information (provided by the DPA) about the candidates and incumbents we should work for and those we should work against. Sharing information and resources will make the difference - the producers, patients and supporters need to band together and work hard to save our program. Meantime, we should all contact our legislators and find out whether they are supporters or not.
Thanks,
Reynold Greenleaf