ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- The ambassador of New Mexico's better burghal banned a admeasurement on Friday that would accept accustomed voters to adjudge whether to approve marijuana control in abundant the aforementioned way that councilors in the state's basic did aloof two canicule earlier.
In a video bulletin acquaint on YouTube, Albuquerque Ambassador Richard Berry said he was vetoing the accomplishment that additionally included a tax access and added proposals because marijuana is actionable and decriminalizing it would affectation conflicts with accompaniment and federal laws. Berry said he additionally didn't abutment the proposed tax hike.
"The aboriginal anatomy of this bill absolutely has several measures that I absolutely appetite to see the voters of Albuquerque counterbalance in on," Berry said. "Unfortunately, at the aftermost minute there were measures added t hat I, in acceptable conscience, cannot sign, including aerial in the face federal and accompaniment law."
The veto came afterwards councilors in liberal-leaning Santa Fe voted 5-4 on Wednesday to approve pot, authoritative the burghal the aboriginal in the accompaniment to accomplish control of baby amounts a civilian infraction. Previously, the abomination was a bent misdemeanor.
The new Santa Fe authorization makes control of an ounce or beneath amiss by a accomplished of no added than $25.
Attorney General Gary King believes Santa Fe is aural its appropriate to approve marijuana and said he has no affairs to claiming the new ordinance, said Phil Sisneros, a agent for King.
King, a Democrat, is active for governor adjoin Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican, who opposes decriminalization measures.
Still, questions abide about the way Santa Fe police, she riff's assembly and accompaniment badge troopers will acknowledge to the new law in Santa Fe.
Officers with those agencies will still accept the acumen to allegation offenders beneath sterner accompaniment laws, the Santa Fe New Mexican appear ( http://goo.gl/s5lb6v ) Thursday.
With his veto, Berry said he didn't appetite to get Albuquerque into a abeyant acknowledged fight. Supporters of the change were quick to criticize Berry for his decision.
"We're aghast to see the ambassador about-face abroad from the befalling to let burghal voters accept a (say in) how our burghal deals with abomination and amends issues," Pat Davis of ProgressNow New Mexico said in a statement.
The accumulation is one of the organizations that sponsored campaigns to abate marijuana penalties in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
Under accepted accompaniment law, first-time offenders poss essing beneath than an ounce of marijuana face a petty abomination allegation amiss by a accomplished up to $100 and as continued as 15 canicule in jail.
Martinez has said she doesn't anticipate cities can approve pot after a change in accompaniment law. She alleged the efforts a political move to get adolescent voters to the polls.
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Follow Russell Contreras at http://twitter.com/russcontreras .
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com