New Mexico Senate OKs Medical Cannabis in Schools

The New Mexico state Senate has voted in favor of a bill to allow for the administration of medical cannabis in public schools to qualified patients, the Albuquerque Journal reports.

Senate Bill 204 passed the Senate floor with limited discussion and a landslide vote of 35-2 in favor.

The bill is sponsored by several bipartisan legislators, including Sen. Candace Gould (R-Albuquerque), who said the bill is meant to address the problem of sick kids having to choose between going to school or taking their medicine. “My constituent came to me, torn between using medicine that’s working more effectively for her child’s epilepsy with less side effects than the Valium she was using and being able to go to school,” said Gould.

Approximately 175 students in New Mexico are prescribed medical cannabis.

The bill would allow school officials to administer cannabis in the same way that other prescription drugs are currently given to students. Districts would be allowed to opt out locally if they decide they might lose federal funding due to the policy. With that in mind, however, there’s also an appeal process for parents in districts that have opted out.

The bill must now past the New Mexico House of Representatives before going to the desk of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) for her signature or veto.