DRUG-POLICY REFORM GAINED GROUND A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR, ADVOCATES SAY

Heads-up to legislators: The drug war is not over.

Not with the advocates for drug law change having won a trio of bills in
the Roundhouse this session.

And other bills, including one to allow marijuana for medical use, came
within a hair's-breadth of becoming law.

This year's legislative session saw an unprecedented wave of proposals that
would change drug policy in New Mexico, from small procedural changes to
ones that would eliminate jail time for drug possession.

Policy reformers are saying New Mexico's Roundhouse could serve as an
example to lawmakers everywhere.

"What happened in New Mexico is definitely a model of a comprehensive
strategy," said Katharine Huffman, New Mexico director for the national
Lindesmith Center Drug Policy Foundation.

The group lobbied heavily during the just-ended 60-day session in Santa Fe
to see drug law rewritten on some key components.

States like Arizona and California have passed medical marijuana bills by
popular vote, but such a policy referendum isn't possible under existing
New Mexico law.

So people like Gov. Gary Johnson and the Lindesmith Center took their
agenda to the Roundhouse, and came away with a few trophies.

"The legislative process is effective because it can look at a
comprehensive package," Huffman said Sunday.

One part of that package that got full approval in the Legislature was a
bill that would make medicine to reverse heroin overdoses more available.
Another allows pharmacists to sell syringes to anyone, even if they appear
to be a heroin addict. A third puts almost $10 million into drug-abuse
treatment and prevention.

"Individually I wouldn't say that these bills are super important," said
Rep. Joe Thompson, who introduced another bill in the House, the one to
permit medical marijuana. "As a group they're part of a new way of thinking
and of looking at problems."

The medical marijuana bill by Thompson, an Albuquerque Republican, was on
the schedule to be voted on Saturday morning before the session ended, but
the clock kept senators from putting a final vote on the bill.

Johnson accused Democrats of using the medical marijuana bill as a
bargaining chip when they were trying to get his support on their version
of a tax cut.

Other bills that would have softened the penalties for some drug possession
were just too hot politically, observers said.

Thompson said he expects Johnson to put that bill on the agenda for a
special session of the Legislature, if the governor decides to call one.

Thompson said the legislative process could be an effective way to make
changes to drug policy in other states.

"We're there, we're doing the people's business, and we've got the time to
look really closely at it," he said.

As for advocates like those from the Lindesmith Center, New Mexico proved
fertile enough that they'll keep their Santa Fe office open.

"We're here for good," Huffman said.