New Mexico’s House voted today to approve a bill decriminalizing cannabis possession.

Today, New Mexico’s House of Representatives, by a vote of 37-33, approved a measure that decriminalizes up to 4 ounces of cannabis, changing it from an arrestable misdemeanor, to a simple civil infraction of no more than $100.

Penalties for possessing 4-8 ounces would also be lowered to include no possibility of jail time, though the charge would remain a misdemeanor. Under current law, possessing 4-8 ounces will net someone up to a year in prison.

A couple weeks back New Mexico’s House Committee on Consumer and Public Affairs passed the measure by a vote of 3-2, coming just a day after new polling showing that a majority in the state support cannabis legalization, and 57% support reducing penalties.

The measure, House Bill 465, now moves to the Senate.

– TheJointBlog.com