Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2005
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM)
Copyright: 2005 The Santa Fe New Mexican
Contact:  http://www.sfnewmexican.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/695
Author: Steve Terrell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

POLITICS STALL PROGRESS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A bill that would legalize marijuana to treat certain medical
conditions has stalled on the floor of the House of Representatives
because of a dispute involving an unrelated bill dealing with
developer impact fees in Albuquerque.

Rep. Dan Silva told a reporter Wednesday that because of his
difficulty in getting his House Bill 805 heard in the Senate Judiciary
Committee, he's worked behind the scenes to delay action on the
medical-marijuana bill, Senate Bill 795.

That bill is sponsored by Sen. Cisco McSorley, who is chairman of the
Judicial Committee.

"I don't want that bill heard," Silva said. "My bill is a lot more
important to my constituents."

Both Silva, a 10-term House member, and McSorley are Albuquerque
Democrats.

Silva's statement angered medical patients who have lobbied for the
bill and who sat in the House gallery three days this week waiting for
the bill to be heard.

"They're playing with my life," said Essie Debonet, 60, an AIDS
patient from Albuquerque. "For me this is literally a matter of life
and death. I'm 88 pounds. I'm fighting wasting with everything I've
got." Marijuana, she said, is the only thing that has given her enough
appetite to prevent her from losing more weight.

Erin Armstrong, a 23-year-old cancer patient also from Albuquerque,
said, "I'm sure that each and every member of our Legislature knows
and understands what a devastating and embarrassing message would be
sent to our state's most vulnerable population if the bill's not
heard. We've had overwhelming support. I'm optimistic they'll do the
right thing."

Meanwhile, Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday he would sign the
medical-marijuana bill.

"Pass it," Richardson said, responding to a reporter's question about
what he'd tell the House in regard to the bill. "I believe there are
enough safeguards. This is for those who are in extreme pain, in
danger .. I would be prepared to sign it, and I urge lawmakers to pass
it."

McSorley said he was shocked by Silva's statement.

"Now we're told that money going to developers is more important than
the lives of sick people," he said. "He's saying he should get special
consideration and that his bill's more important than all the other
House bills ahead of his.

"The first thing we learn as freshman legislators is that each bill
should be judged on its own merits," McSorley said. "I will not give
special consideration to legislation in order to pass my bills."

He said Silva's bill would be heard in the order his committee
received it -- if time allows. In recent days, bills in Senate
Judiciary and other committees have been piling up because the Senate
has been spending so much of its time in floor sessions rather than in
committees.

Silva said McSorley doesn't like his impact-fee bill and won't talk
about the legislation.

McSorley's bill, which passed the Senate with a majority of both
Democrats and Republicans, had enjoyed a relatively easy time in the
House, zipping through two committees with little opposition. It has
been on the House floor calendar since Monday. On Tuesday it was No. 9
on the agenda. On Wednesday and Thursday, it was No. 3. But it has
been passed over four days in a row.

In the House, McSorley's bill is being carried by Rep. Henry "Kiki"
Saavedra, D-Albuquerque. Saavedra is a co-sponsor of Silva's bill.

Those lobbying for the bill include sons of Silva and Saavedra.
Domonic Silva said three of his clients are backing the impact-fees
bill.

Among organizations backing the bill are the Association for Commerce
and Industry, the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the New Mexico
Homebuilders Association.

Silva said his bill was prompted by the impact-fee bill adopted by the
Albuquerque City Council, which divides the city into different
segments with different impact-fee rates.

Impact fees are imposed on developers to pay for costs such as
water-line and sewer extensions into previously undeveloped land.

Silva said the fees are unfair to those building homes in his
southwest Albuquerque district.

For instance, the fee would be about $9,000 to build a new
2,000-square-foot house in Silva's area, compared to about $1,500 for
the same house in the already developed middle part of
Albuquerque.

Silva said this will result in higher-priced -- or lower-quality --
homes in his district and will encourage developers to build in
outlying communities such as Rio Rancho, Los Lunas or Belen.

Supporters of the fees argue they reflect the actual cost of new
development to the city.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake