The Second Session of the 57th Legislature

January 2-16, 2026: Legislation may be prefiled
January 20: Opening day (noon)
February 4: Deadline for introduction
February 19: Session ends (noon)
March 11: Legislation not acted upon by governor is pocket vetoed
May 20: Effective date of legislation not a general appropriation bill or a bill carrying an emergency clause or other specified date

BlueSky Profile

Senate Committee Moves Joint Resolution to Legalize Marijuana

Senate News & Op-Eds

February 10, 2016
Contact:Arnold Vigil
(505) 986.4263
Arnold.Vigil@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Senate Committee Moves Joint Resolution to Legalize Marijuana

Santa Fe — A proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana passed a Senate committee this morning.

SORTI[1]
Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-12-Bernalillo)
The Senate Rules Committee voted 6-4 to move Senate Joint Resolution 5 (SJR 5), Use & Tax of Marijuana & Revenue, CA, to the Senate Judiciary Committee without recommendation. Committee members deadlocked in a 5-5 party line vote to pass the joint resolution. Measures that receive tie votes remain in the committee. But Republican Senator Ted Barela later voted with Democrats to move the legislation along with  no recommendation.

Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-12-Bernalillo) told committee members that legalizing marijuana would free law enforcement from chasing marijuana smokers and allow them to focus on serious crimes. The constitutional amendment, if passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, would be approved or denied by voters in the next general election.

###