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City of Santa Fe Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative (November 2014)
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A City of Santa Fe Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative ballot question was not put on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Santa Fe in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. This measure was approved directly by the city council.[1][2] An advisory measure asking voters if they approve of decriminalization was approved for the ballot by the Santa Fe County Commissioners for the entire county.[3]
This measure made it merely a civil infraction to possess an ounce or less of marijuana. The maximum penalty that can be imposed for such a violation would be $25. Without this measure, the penalty for possession would have remained a fine of between $50 and $100 and up to 15 days in jail.[4]
A similar measure was voted onto the ballot by the Albuquerque City Council, despite an unsuccessful petition drive effort. It was vetoed, however, and will not be seen by Albuquerque voters.[5]
This campaign by ProgressNow NM and Drug Policy Action was the first successful effort to place a measure on the ballot through an initiative petition since the power of initiative was added to the Santa Fe charter in 2008.[5]
It was unclear whether these measures would have been allowed on the November 4, 2014, election ballot due to certain restrictions and rules. At the crux of the issue was whether the marijuana question would have actually fit on the ballot. According to the Santa Fe City Charter, the entire three-page initiative ordinance would have had to have been displayed on the ballot.[6][3]
Support
Supporters of marijuana legalization or decriminalization argued that the drug does not deserve attention from law enforcement and that police officers should focus on important, harmful crimes.
New Mexico In Focus, "Episode 807: Marijuana Penalties Latest," August 22, 2014 |
Opposition
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) was opposed to both this local measure and the similar measure in Albuquerque. She argued that cities should maintain consistency with federal and state laws, which both consider marijuana an illegal drug. She also stated that the current penalties surrounding pot use and possession were warranted and should be left in place.[7]
The gubernatorial race
The issue of marijuana decriminalization became important enough in the state to be highlighted by the race for governor. Gov. Susana Martinez (R) - the incumbent in the state's 2014 gubernatorial race - came out against decriminalization efforts, especially local efforts that put city laws at odds with federal law. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gary King, however, largely approved of decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.[8]
King said, "Its inappropriate for small amounts of marijuana to be putting people in prison."[8]
Martinez said, "It is against the law, federally, and, therefore, it is also against the law in New Mexico and I think it is the way it should be and the penalties are appropriate."[8]
Path to the ballot
Initiative petitioners needed 5,673 valid signatures to qualify their initiative for the ballot. The groups ProgressNow NM and Drug Policy Action turned in almost 11,000 signatures and, after investigating the petitions, Santa Fe City Clerk Yolanda Vigil announced that enough signatures were valid, making the pro-marijuana activists the first to successfully qualify a measure for the ballot though the initiative process since the power of initiative was added to the city charter in 2008. The city council had the option of approving the measure directly or voting to put it on the ballot. They chose the first option, voting the measure into law on August 24, 2014.[4][1]
Related measures
Recreational
Washington D.C. Marijuana Legalization, Initiative 71 (November 2014)
Colorado:
Maine:
City of Lewiston Recreational Marijuana Legalization Measure (November 2014)
City of South Portland Recreational Marijuana Legalization Measure (November 2014)
Town of York Recreational Marijuana Legalization Measure (November 2014)
Massachusetts:
Michigan:
New Mexico:
Santa Fe County Marijuana Decriminalization Advisory Question (November 2014)
Bernalillo County Marijuana Decriminalization Advisory Question, Measure 1 (November 2014)
City of Albuquerque Marijuana Decriminalization Measure (November 2014)
City of Santa Fe Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative (November 2014)
Wisconsin:
Dane County State Legalization of Marijuana Referendum (April 2014)
Medical
California:
City of Santa Ana Council-Referred Medical Marijuana Regulation Ordinance, Measure BB (November 2014)
City of Santa Ana Medical Cannabis Restriction and Limitation Initiative, Measure CC (November 2014)
City of La Mesa Medical Marijuana Initiative, Proposition J (November 2014)
City of Encinitas Medical Marijuana Initiative, Proposition F (November 2014)
Nevada County Medical Marijuana Cultivation, Measure S (November 2014)
Butte County Medical Marijuana Ordinance 4075 Referendum, Measure A (November 2014)
Butte County Medical Marijuana Initiative, Measure B (November 2014)
Shasta County Outdoor Medical Marijuana Ordinance Referendum, Measure A (November 2014)
Lake County "Medical Marijuana Control Act" Initiative, Measure O (November 2014)
Lake County "Freedom to Garden Human Rights Restoration Act" Initiative, Measure P (November 2014)
City of Weed Permitting Licensing of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Advisory Question, Measure L (November 2014)
City of Weed Outdoor Marijuana Cultivation Ban Advisory Question, Measure K (November 2014)
Lake County Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance 2997 Referendum, Measure N (June 2014)
City of Imperial Beach "Compassionate Access Ordinance" Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Act (June 2014)
City of Napa Medical Marijuana Dispensary Referendum (November 2014)
City of San Jose Medical Marijuana Regulation Act of 2014 (November 2014)
See also
- Local marijuana on the ballot
- November 4, 2014 ballot measures in New Mexico
- Santa Fe County, New Mexico ballot measures
External links
Additional reading
- New Mexico Telegram, "Morning Word: ABQ ballot measures likely to be vetoed by mayor," August 20, 2014
- San Francisco Chronicle online, "Albuquerque mayor considers veto on pot measure," August 20, 2014
- KUNM, "Headlines: ABQ Mayor May Veto Marijuana Vote, Governor Opposes Pot Advocacy And More," August 20, 2014
- Albuquerque Journal, "SF County Commission approves pot referendum," August 27, 2014
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 KOB4, "Santa Fe City Council passes measure to reduce marijuana penalties," August 27, 2014
- ↑ Reuters, "Santa Fe city council votes to decriminalize marijuana," August 28, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Santa Fe Reporter, "Santa Fe County Commission Moves Forward With Marijuana Ballot Initiative," August 26, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Santa Fe Reporter, "Clerk Finds Enough Signatures on Marijuana Petition," August 25, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 News Channel Ten, "Albuquerque ballot measure on marijuana advances," August 19, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico In Focus, "Episode 807: Marijuana Penalties Latest," August 22, 2014
- ↑ KUNM, "Headlines: ABQ Mayor May Veto Marijuana Vote, Governor Opposes Pot Advocacy And More," August 19, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 ProgressNow NM website, "Gary King and Susana Martinez Square Off on Marijuana Policy. Who’s on your side?" August 22, 2014
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