New Mexico simply grew to become the 18th state to legalize leisure pot use for adults, however that makes no distinction to the U.S. Customs and Border Safety, which issued a warning this week for anybody passing by the Land of Enchantment: it’s nonetheless unlawful to us.
“Border Patrol brokers have drug enforcement authority. Marijuana continues to be a prohibited drug underneath Schedule 1 of The USA Managed Substances Act. Due to this fact, U.S. Border Patrol brokers will proceed to take acceptable enforcement motion towards those that are encountered in possession of marijuana wherever in america,” the company mentioned in a media launch, as quoted by Border Report.
Leisure pot gross sales launched in New Mexico late final week, following dozens of different states and cities which have enacted their very own measures to finish their prohibition on hashish during the last decade.
However the admonition from the Border Patrol is a reminder that prospects ought to nonetheless tread rigorously in the event that they occur to be carrying within the state. As Border Report famous, “Border Patrol operates freeway checkpoints in New Mexico on Interstate 10 close to Deming, north of Las Cruces, south of Alamogordo and north of Columbus, amongst others,” and brokers who’re located there “primarily test for immigration paperwork of individuals touring to the inside of america, however additionally they make drug seizures underneath Title 21 authority of the U.S. Code.”
And, as in different states, New Mexico hailed the brand new coverage as an financial driver for state and native economies.
“As we glance to rebound from the financial downturn attributable to the pandemic, entrepreneurs will profit from this nice alternative to create profitable new enterprises, the state and native governments will profit from the added income and, importantly, staff will profit from the possibility to land new forms of jobs and construct careers,” New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham mentioned in an announcement after signing the legalization invoice into regulation final 12 months.
“This laws is a serious, main step ahead for our state,” Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, added. “Legalized adult-use hashish goes to alter the way in which we take into consideration New Mexico for the higher — our workforce, our financial system, our future. We’re prepared to interrupt new floor. We’re able to put money into ourselves and the limitless potential of New Mexicans. And we’re able to get to work in making this trade a profitable one.”
However the warning issued by the Border Patrol captures what has been the defining rigidity of this period of legalization, with the brand new state and native hashish legal guidelines invariably working afoul of the federal authorities’s ban on hashish.
It’s why Congress is dealing with mounting stress to lastly change that. The U.S. Home of Representatives final week handed the Marijuana Alternative, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, which might legalize hashish on the federal stage.
The laws now heads to the Senate, the place leaders say they intend to supply their very own legalization proposal by month’s finish.
At a press convention on Tuesday, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer mentioned he’s consulting Republicans within the chamber to see what they want added to the hashish invoice.
The MORE Act handed the Democratic-controlled Home largely on a party-line vote.
For Schumer, getting one thing performed will symbolize the success of a promise his occasion made final 12 months after they have been swept into energy. In an interview final spring, Schumer mentioned that “in some unspecified time in the future we’re going to maneuver ahead [on legalization], interval.”
“In 2018, I used to be the primary member of the Democratic management to come back out in help of ending the federal prohibition. I’m positive you ask, ‘Nicely what modified?’ Nicely, my pondering advanced. When a number of of the early states — Oregon and Colorado — needed to legalize, all of the opponents talked concerning the parade of horribles: Crime would go up. Drug use would go up. All the things dangerous would occur,” Schumer said at the time.
“The legalization of states labored out remarkably nicely. They have been an amazing success. The parade of horribles by no means took place, and other people acquired extra freedom. And other people in these states appear very blissful.”