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New Mexico launches cannabis sales, within Texans' reach

New Mexico is making the sale of up to 2 ounces of recreational marijuana legal, bringing legalization to the doorstep of Texas, the largest prohibition state.

www.npr.org

T;L;DR

- Have to be 21 or older to buy.
- Can purchase up to 57 grams.
- 18 states total now that have legal recreational weed.
- Local governments can restrict locations & hours of operation, but cannot prohibit sales.
- No public consumption. Must be in your home or designated casino/cigar shop. Its not in the article but I heard your backyard is also fine if "nobody is around" whatever that means. I also assume no use in your vehicle which would fall also under dwi laws.

 

[SafeOrAlone]

It's strange to think back to the days of alcohol prohibition, but with weed, it's going to seem even stranger that it was ever illegal, as time goes on.

It's the least harmful thing ever. Just don't drive or operate heavy machinery on it, and we're all good.

 

[Sub_Level]

It's strange to think back to the days of alcohol prohibition, but with weed, it's going to seem even stranger that it was ever illegal, as time goes on.

It's the least harmful thing ever. Just don't drive or operate heavy machinery on it, and we're all good.

My 50-something coworker today was all "you really don't think it rots your brain? Talk to a stoner for ten minutes and tell me it doesn't rot your brain". There's still a huge stigma to it among a good chunk of the population. Gonna be another generation or two before we treat it like alcohol (and probably another generation or two after that before we take a more critical look at alcohol).

 

[EviLore]

The House just passed federal decriminalization too, but they don’t have the 60 Senate votes so it’s unlikely to become federal law yet.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

I support recreational legalization primarily because as a taxpayer I don't want to throw kids into prison with a drug charge over fucking weed. The DOT will never allow truck drivers to smoke weed, regardless of its legality, so I said goodbye to Mr. Dankweed a long time ago, so it won't even effect me directly.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

The House just passed federal decriminalization too, but they don’t have the 60 Senate votes so it’s unlikely to become federal law yet.

If the GOP were smart they'd capitalize on this issue, and snatch 20% of the under-40 crowd overnight.

 

[KyoZz]

This is the way to go. I really hope that France (where I live) will consider legalization or at least decriminalization. We are the biggest consumers in Europe and yet it's being treated as the worst drug ever with a strong repression.
I just want to smoke my joint when I get home after work: shower => music => light a joint and then I'm all good. I bother nobody.

 

[12Goblins]

This is the way to go. I really hope that France (where I live) will consider legalization or at least decriminalization. We are the biggest consumers in Europe and yet it's being treated as the worst drug ever with a strong repression.
I just want to smoke my joint when I get home after work: shower => music => light a joint and then I'm all good. I bother nobody.

yea what's up with that? France seems really progressive with other issues, but when I'm in france it's really hard to find weed lol

 

[EviLore]

yea what's up with that? France seems really progressive with other issues, but when I'm in france it's really hard to find weed lol

Too busy chain smoking cigs.

 

[KyoZz]

yea what's up with that? France seems really progressive with other issues

Honestly it's very frustrating, the hypocrisy is real.

but when I'm in france it's really hard to find weed lol

Next time go to Bordeaux and let me know, you won't be disappointed

 

[jason10mm]

The House just passed federal decriminalization too, but they don’t have the 60 Senate votes so it’s unlikely to become federal law yet.

Why would they need 60? Is Biden gonna veto it?

 

[EviLore]

Why would they need 60? Is Biden gonna veto it?

60 votes for cloture to bypass the filibuster.

 

[natjjohn]

Why would they need 60? Is Biden gonna veto it?

Republicans will filibuster. To break it you need 60 votes and Republicans as a whole would never, ever in our lifetime allow legalized marijuana. In the house, only two republicans voted for it out of over 200 republican members. Taking those numbers to the senate, that equals 0 republican senators.

 

[MikeM]

Been legal in Canada for a while. Much rather the money go to social services and ensuring the weed is safe vs money going to crime.

 

[jason10mm]

Republicans will filibuster. To break it you need 60 votes and Republicans as a whole would never, ever in our lifetime allow legalized marijuana. In the house, only two republicans voted for it out of over 200 republican members. Taking those numbers to the senate, that equals 0 republican senators.

I'm not sure this is really true. Plenty of red states want that THC money or could use the agricultural boom from THC or hemp.

 

[Nobody_Important]

The House just passed federal decriminalization too, but they don’t have the 60 Senate votes so it’s unlikely to become federal law yet.

Yeah and it doesn't even have unanimous Democratic support in the Senate. I think two democratic senators already have come out with apprehensions regarding the bill. The one statement I saw went back to calling marijuana a "gateway drug" like we aren't in the year 2022.


These people need to be sat down in a room full of economists and doctors and have it explained to them in excruciating detail just how good this would be for the country if the bill passed.

 

[mitch1971]

Come on UK, pull your arse out!

 

[It's all in the wrist]

Republicans will filibuster. To break it you need 60 votes and Republicans as a whole would never, ever in our lifetime allow legalized marijuana. In the house, only two republicans voted for it out of over 200 republican members. Taking those numbers to the senate, that equals 0 republican senators.

This mystifies me. NONE of those 200 fuckers think differently? I know so many staunch conservatives that smoke (and drink). The sentiment seems way in favor of legalization.

Oh well. It's a trivial matter to get D8 in most states anyway.

 

[TheGrat1]

I have never imbibed cannabis nor do I want to. I have not had a drop of alcohol since late July 2021 and it had been months before that. I still want all of this stuff decriminalized. Prohibition breeds crime and robs the legitimate economy of business opportunities and our country of tax revenue. If the War on Drugs™ has not eliminated the consumption of "illicit" substances by now, as feeling towards them continue to soften in the public, it never will. Just rip the bandage off and stop pretending it is not going to happen eventually. We need to use our brains.

 

[93xfan]

Into space?

 

[Rentahamster]

I'm not sure this is really true. Plenty of red states want that THC money or could use the agricultural boom from THC or hemp.

They could, but that industry doesn't exist yet, therefore doesn't make money yet, therefore doesn't have a strong enough lobby to give those politicians campaign contributions yet. The money can eventually talk, like it always does, but it could be a little more time before it can overcome their already entrenched interests on this topic.

 

[ResilientBanana]

Welcome to the fam.

 

[chromhound]

Welcome to the weed team

 

[zeorhymer]

Meh...alcohol is allowed. Just waiting for the first stoned driver to cause an accident and let the articles fly.

I'm not sure this is really true. Plenty of red states want that THC money or could use the agricultural boom from THC or hemp.

This does nothing. The "legit" businesses will pay taxes out of the wazoo and have higher prices while the self growers or grey market will boom because they're cheaper and of higher quality. Yes I know cause I live in Commiefornia and I can get weed so much cheaper from a dealer than from any business.

 

[nush]

vs money going to crime.

The people that produce legal weed are the criminals that produced it before.

 

[Lunarorbit]

Slowly but surely the laws on marijuana are changing.

Can have up to 12 plants on your property in Massachusetts. Everyone in West Texas are celebrating cause that state is never gonna legalize weed unless it's forced to

 

[EverydayBeast]

Don’t follow weed legalization a lot they aren’t messing around with legalization would love if it’s just like alcohol.

 

[synchronicity]

I'm not a weed user, but the fact that there are people in prison over a fucking plant is the most ridiculous and oppressive thing ever. SMDH at people who believe in any idea of freedom. We are abused by our government in so many ways, and most people just seem to shrug.

 

[natjjohn]

I'm not sure this is really true. Plenty of red states want that THC money or could use the agricultural boom from THC or hemp.

It’s true. It just happened. Only two out of over two hundred voted yes. You play the math over to the senate and that equals 0 Another recent example. South Dakota had a voter initiative to legalize marijuana. Republicans there went into overdrive to get it overturned, and since they are in all critical spots, it was overturned as they wanted.

 

[jason10mm]

It’s true. It just happened. Only two out of over two hundred voted yes. You play the math over to the senate and that equals 0 Another recent example. South Dakota had a voter initiative to legalize marijuana. Republicans there went into overdrive to get it overturned, and since they are in all critical spots, it was overturned as they wanted.

I think there is a difference in voting no to a bill you know is gonna pass anyway versus being a deciding vote. Politics is politics.

 

[Vestal]

There is absolutely zero reason for Marijuana to not be legal in the US for people over 18. At the bare minimum , we should have already decriminalized it’s use Federally.

We were fed so much bullshit during the 80s and 90s about Marijuana. It was basically painted in the same light as cocaine and heroine. That misinformation still dominates the minds of a lot of US adults.

Regardless, the change is coming. Maybe not in the next 3 years, but I’d put money that by 2030 weed will be legal federally.

 

[natjjohn]

I think there is a difference in voting no to a bill you know is gonna pass anyway versus being a deciding vote. Politics is politics.

Senate republicans will be voting no/filibustering when it’s going to make a difference in the senate (this won’t become law because of Senate republicans).. House Republicans voted no because they wanted to vote no regardless of final outcome. By your logic, they should’ve voted yes if that’s what they believed because republicans in the senate will be blocking it making their yes votes meaningless. They voted no because, in general, republicans don’t want this.

 

[GeekyDad]

The House just passed federal decriminalization too, but they don’t have the 60 Senate votes so it’s unlikely to become federal law yet.

Which tells me Big Tobacco must not have everything in place yet for full-on manufacturing and distribution. When they're ready, it'll pass.

 

[NecrosaroIII]

Any hope for legalized Psilocybin in my lifetime?

 

[MikeM]

The people that produce legal weed are the criminals that produced it before.

But now gainfully employed and contributing to taxes.

 

[Shadowstar39]

My 50-something coworker today was all "you really don't think it rots your brain? Talk to a stoner for ten minutes and tell me it doesn't rot your brain". There's still a huge stigma to it among a good chunk of the population. Gonna be another generation or two before we treat it like alcohol (and probably another generation or two after that before we take a more critical look at alcohol).

Both have pros and cons. Weed led me into a lifestyle as a teen of not caring. It led me into psychadelics, Dust, LSD, Mushrooms, and cocaine. It also made it easier for me to find percocet to oxys and finally H.
Sure weed got me popular and laid but it also destroyed my grades, I barely finished high school. Going from a nerdy straight A student to a rebel who left in the middle of class to go get high.

It made me lazy. Was fun for sure, but you can't say it has no negatives. You also can't say Alcohol has no positives, both can be true. Also some people can use both have zero issues.

I am fine with legalization btw (but they better legalize heroin, pcp, lsd, etc .. too or they are hypocrites! People shouldn't go to jail for possessing a natural substance or ingesting it)... i just don't like open advertising. Meaning having to see pot commercials on tv or having kids look at is as a positive. I get drug tested and assholes will smoke it at places in the open like parks or walking down the street, its frustrating. We used to go deep in the woods, graveyards, traintracks, stay at home, or clam bake in a car, not out in the open in front of people.

 

[Shadowstar39]

There is absolutely zero reason for Marijuana to not be legal in the US for people over 18. At the bare minimum , we should have already decriminalized it’s use Federally.

We were fed so much bullshit during the 80s and 90s about Marijuana. It was basically painted in the same light as cocaine and heroine. That misinformation still dominates the minds of a lot of US adults.

Regardless, the change is coming. Maybe not in the next 3 years, but I’d put money that by 2030 weed will be legal federally.

True, but its not exactly harmless either. The truth is like alcohol, moderation is key.

People shouldn't be going to jail for having any drug, just not pot. Coke and H should be legal to possess too. Selling is a different mater. Don't like how we punish people who are hooked on something.
We should offer rehabilitation/recovery not jail time, which leads bad influence.

All that being said, it still needs to be restricted for driving and for public use. Kids shouldn't be seeing it in school, it should be like cigerettes, no advertisments on TV, etc, also laws and devices need to be made to test people who happen to drive under the influence.

 

[Shadowstar39]

Yeah and it doesn't even have unanimous Democratic support in the Senate. I think two democratic senators already have come out with apprehensions regarding the bill. The one statement I saw went back to calling marijuana a "gateway drug" like we aren't in the year 2022.


These people need to be sat down in a room full of economists and doctors and have it explained to them in excruciating detail just how good this would be for the country if the bill passed.

It is a gateway drug for many. It was for me and my friends growing up in the early 90s. Went on to much worse things. It isn't for everyone but like everything else, there is nuance.

 

[Outlier]

If I had a choice of either or i'd be for legal weed over alcohol, any day. However I'd rather deal with alcohol smell over weed.

 

[Stitch]

Into space?

si, fly

 

[nush]

Which tells me Big Tobacco must not have everything in place yet for full-on manufacturing and distribution. When they're ready, it'll pass.

They really don’t, they missed the boat on vaping as they were too focused on keeping their Tobacco supply chain running and pushing heat no burn cigarettes onto markets that don’t want them.

Only three years ago they had people going around China looking at the different vape manufacturers. Those vendors falling over themselves thinking they were going to get a chance to partner with big tobacco and showing them everything. They are not going to partner with you it’s just a fact finding mission so they can set up their own manufacture.

 

[FunkMiller]

Two things that should be legalised everywhere:

Recreational cannabis and prostitution. Makes both safer for everyone concerned, greatly reduces criminality, and raises public funds through taxation.

 

[Dr. Claus]

I despise recreational drug use, but I whole heartedly support the legalization of it. Gives people more avenues to make legal money, helps save people from jail time over silly reasons, and (most importantly for me) helps avoid people who do it.

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

My 50-something coworker today was all "you really don't think it rots your brain? Talk to a stoner for ten minutes and tell me it doesn't rot your brain". There's still a huge stigma to it among a good chunk of the population. Gonna be another generation or two before we treat it like alcohol (and probably another generation or two after that before we take a more critical look at alcohol).

Now ask them the reverse. Talk to a life time moderate/daily drinker akin to the term "stoner" and see who strings a sentence together or has the spark of creativity left. You want to tackle domestic violence while you're at it? Alcohol vs weed is your answer to that issue drastically reducing as well.

 

[synchronicity]

Any hope for legalized Psilocybin in my lifetime?

I think so, but when laws are unjust or unreasonably confining sometimes you must exercise your own freedom as a sentient being rather than deferring to external authorities and dictates prescribed by entities that are disinterested in your individual well-being, or even in affording the ability to make reasonable personal choices that impact none other than yourself.

 

[GymWolf]

GooD, now make the exact same fucking thing everywhere.

Please and thank you.

Lol who i'm kidding, we have the fucking pope and fairytale cult headquarter here in italy, we are gonna be the last in the globe to have legal ganja...

 

[Deleted member 1159]

It will never not be absurd that THC is a Schedule I controlled substance. I can’t believe decriminalization would be filibustered in the senate…I mean, I can given it’s full of useless geriatrics, but come on.

I’ve cut my drinking by like 99% because my state allows weed now.

 

[It's all in the wrist]

It is a gateway drug for many. It was for me and my friends growing up in the early 90s. Went on to much worse things. It isn't for everyone but like everything else, there is nuance.

Right. Weed advocates often act like it's a panacea with no downsides. It's not harmless if abused, practically speaking. You won't die from it but it can fuck up your life in so many ways.

 

[synchronicity]

Right. Weed advocates often act like it's a panacea with no downsides. It's not harmless if abused, practically speaking. You won't die from it but it can fuck up your life in so many ways.

Anything can be harmful. The poison is always in the dose and is personal chemistry/circumstance/psychology dependent. That goes for "proper" mainstream medicine just as much or often more so than plant/fungi substances. People's lives are wrecked and/or ended all.the.time. by "genuine well-researched" approaches and interventions.

 

[ipukespiders]

It's the least harmful thing ever.

For those smoking it, isn't any kind of smoke in your lungs harmful?