Medical Marijuana Bill Heads to the Senate Floor Today, March 2nd

SANTA FE – Today, the Senate will vote on the Lynn Pierson Compassionate Use Act, SB 795. The bill will allow qualified patients suffering from certain serious illnesses, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and epilepsy, to use medical marijuana for relief of their symptoms. SB 795 unanimously passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee on February 18th, and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with a 7-2 vote on February 28th.

“This is about giving patients access to medicine that has been documented to reduce nausea, control pain, and increase appetite,” said Senator Cisco McSorley, who sponsored the bill. “For some patients, nothing else has worked to relieve their pain and suffering. They should have this option.”

Patients suffering from AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries will plead with legislators to treat them as patients, not as criminals. A recent poll shows that 81% of New Mexico voters support legal access to medical marijuana.

“This is a winning issue for politicians,” said Reena Szczepanski, director of the Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico. “The public overwhelmingly supports this issue, both in the state and nationally. The quality of life for our most vulnerable New Mexicans is at stake.”