 | International News: USA: New Mexico the twelfth state to legalise medical cannabis |
 New Mexico lawmakers have approved a bill that will legalise the medicinal use of cannabis, set up a state -run system for distributing the medicine, and license producers to grow it.
On 13 March the House of Representatives approved a bill that would legalize the use of cannabis for medical purposes in New Mexico by a 36-31 vote.
On 14 March the Senate, which already approved the bill some time ago, accepted a small change by the House of Representatives that would forbid the distribution of cannabis within 300 feet (about 100 meters) of any church, school or day-care center.
New Mexico's Govenor Bill Richardson has already said he will approve the measure.
It will allow patients to use cannabis to alleviate the symptoms of several debilitating medical conditions approved by the state Department of Health.
Under the bill, the department would be required to create a system for distributing medical cannabis to patients by 1 October 2007.
The department would issue identification cards to patients and caregivers, and also license
producers to grow cannabis.
"This bill will provide much-needed relief for New Mexicans suffering from debilitating diseases while including the proper safeguards to prevent abuse," Gouvenor Richardson said in a
written statement.
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, , Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have already legalized the medical use of cannabis.
Source: International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) www.cannabis-med.org quoting the New Mexican of 14 March 2007 and Associated Press of 15 March 2007
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