Weed Between the Lines

An incomplete history of marijuana and New Mexico

By Alexa Schirtzinger

1600s: Early settlers bring Cannabis sativa to colonies to cultivate hemp

1850: Marijuana's medicinal properties are referenced in the medical reference book United States Pharmacopeia

1970: Congress passes Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act (now, the Federal Controlled Substance Act). Marijuana is categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning doctors are no longer allowed to prescribe it

1978: Cheech and Chong release their first full-length feature film, Up in Smoke

1996: California voters approve legalizing marijuana for medicinal use

1998: Washington state approves medical marijuana

1999: New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson begins advocating for legal marijuana

2000: Colorado approves medical marijuana

April 2007: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson signs Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, making New Mexico the 12th state to have a medical marijuana program

June 2010: Gubernatorial hopeful Susana Martinez tells SFR in a statement that, if elected, she will "work to repeal the state's medical marijuana law"

March 2011: Freshman state Rep. James Smith introduces bill to repeal New Mexico's Medical Cannabis Program, then backs off

November 6, 2012: Colorado, Washington state residents vote to legalize marijuana

November 11, 2012: Pollster Brian Sanderoff tells KOAT-TV that a ballot measure legalizing marijuana "would have a chance of passing in New Mexico at some point down the road"

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