Interview with Senator McSorley
By Hannah Taylor
In 1978, Lynn Pierson, a sunny 26-year-old New Mexican man dying from cancer stood before his state legislature. Light headed and unsure if from the cancer or the cure, Lynn remained determined, for himself and the future, not entirely knowing the consequences of the seeds he was sowing: only knowing the nausea, the bleak hospital room, and the stark sight of his own reflection.
That year, thanks to him, New Mexico happily and overwhelmingly passed the Lynn Pierson Therapeutic Research Act. Lynn passed away in August of 1978, after bringing attention to the cause, and though the Federal government tried to thwart his efforts, the state of New Mexico denounced their claim and pressed on after his death. Due to him, New Mexico became the first state to establish a medical cannabis program and built the capacity to provide for 250 patients. Sadly, eight years later the program was defunded as Reagan’s War on Drugs took hold. In 2005, nineteen years after all legal cannabis research and treatment was stopped; Erin Armstrong, daughter of current Representative Deborah Armstrong, began the arduous road to petition for legal medication for critically ill patients. Diagnosed with a rare thyroid cancer at the age of 17, Erin was connected to the cause. With the support of her mother and Valerie Hubbard, Erin managed to get a bill on the agenda, but it was to no avail – the medicinal cannabis measure was brought to the house, and never called to the floor for a vote By Hannah Taylor In 1978, Lynn Pierson, a sunny 26-year-old New Mexican man dying from cancer stood before his state legislature. Light headed and unsure if from the cancer or the cure, Lynn remained determined, for himself and the future, not entirely knowing the consequences of the seeds he was sowing: only knowing the nausea, the bleak hospital room, and the stark sight of his own reflection.
As patients he worked with were passing away in agony, Erin Armstrong persevered and kept working for change. Valerie Hubbard recollects working with Erin – “We knew in 2006 the legislature was only in session for one month.” With only 5 minutes to speak during “the Governors Call,” they earned a position on the Houses’ hearing roster. Though yet again the House did not call the bill to hear it, Hubbard felt as if “there was no stopping us, we were headed for victory.” Erin’s tireless work and testimonies from critically ill patients, along with Lynn Piersons’ story, found an advocate in New Mexico’s Cisco McSorley, Senator from Albuquerque’s 16th District. With his help sharing and amending the medical marijuana bill to fit state House and Senate member’s needs, they finally assembled a program, with limitations on who could, and couldnt, be considered for medication. [It was] what people around New Mexico needed and wanted.” –Senator McSorley The journey took seven years, and both Lynn Pierson and Erin Armstrong were honored when the Lynn & Erin Compassionate Use Act was signed into law in 2007 under New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Despite the triumph, Senator McSorley knew the work was not over. Governor Richardson was stepping down, and Susana Martinez, adamantly opposed to any form of drug use, was determined to repeal the Lynn & Erin Compassionate Use Act. Border text box – “more on the senator” “While focused on patients, they are not the only people on his radar. Senator Cisco McSorley has a long history advocating for the voiceless in the Justice system. Having a problem with the state’s 5,000 untested sexual assault kits, he is currently advocating for more funding in order to process the backlog. Fitting, considering he is known as the ‘Father of DNA’ in New Mexico for influencing legislation enabling comparative testing between victim, crime scene evidence, and the suspect. Sen. McSorley is frustrated by New Mexico’s lack of funding for Albuquerque’s Forensics Department, and the subsequent impact on justice for women.”
Right now, our 2017 State Legislature session has opened and will be active until mid-March. With $69 million dollars in budget cuts to prepare for, our Representatives and Senators have a lot to work on – and this is the best time to set them to work on a plan that will help New Mexico prosper. Ten years after passing the Lynn & Erin Compassionate Use Act, Sen. McSorley’s journey fighting for patients continues with Senate Bill 8, an amendment opening the program to allow for new patients under previously unqualified degrees of illness. “We now have ten years of experience with medical cannabis within the state, and we know that the best practices are evolving. We learned from it.” Not only will this allow more patients access, but he intends to improve the quality of life for those with ongoing chronic illnesses through a measure to extend the expiration date of a medical marijuana license from one year to three, and to allow for patients to carry up to 15 ounces every 90 days, rather than 8 ounces every 90 days. The people are way ahead of the politicians on this.” –Senator McSorley While it is all about medicine rightly being provided to those in need, there is one more thing about Senate Bill 8 that will dramatically help. Increasing the number of crops allowed from 450 to 1,000, per license, without raising the $90k licensing price, will hopefully provide for more medicine at a cheaper rate, and enable producers to keep up with an expected increase in demand. Senator McSorley has also devised a way for supporters and patients of cannabis to open a new realm of prosperity. Carrying Senate Bill 6, a bill for the Department of Agriculture to allow for the research and commercial growth of hemp, Sen. McSorley knows that this hearty cousin of mari-juana would not only grow well in desert climates, but would also create a revitalization of industry for our state. Farmers need alternatives.” –Senator McSorley It is proposed that not only will farmers and ranchers be able to grow hemp for profit, New Mexico State University will also grow hemp to research the multitude of ways it can be processed and manufactured, under a budget to-be determined by the Department of Agriculture. There are 17 industries that use hemp, or that hemp can be used as an alternative in; the automotive, construction, and textile companies are some. Disturbingly, as Senator McSorley explained, “China is the only country that is producing hemp for sale.” Why are we buying hemp from China, when our marginalized ranchers and Native Pueblos are left to struggle for survival? “This is a huge opportunity for rural development.” Senator McSorley, who is also Advisory to the Indian Affairs Committee, claims it will “bring money and work into the supporting Pueblos,” something that has been long overdue. The Navajo tribe, in 2015 signed their first resolution to grow hemp in New Mexico and has been waiting for this since 2000, as Forbes reports. However many argue that hemp needs to be researched, and because of its relationship to the marijuana strain, it is currently listed on the Federal Controlled Substance list as a Schedule One drug. There are relatively high amounts of CBD in hemp, and trace amounts of THC when
compared to marijuana, but only through active research can we prove that this bountiful, hearty plant proves beneficial to our state, not as an addictive drug. We answered everybody’s concerns [about hemp]…from police training and public safety, to federal concerns…” –Senator McSorley Last year, a similar hemp measure was qualified and approved in both the State’s House and Senate. However, when it reached Governor Susana Martinez’ desk, it was “pocket vetoed,” according to Hubbard. This is something that Senator McSorley and supporters have been revising and recommending to address peoples’ concerns, and Representatives’ concerns, for years. Not only will this boost our economy from the agricultural floor, it will also provide invaluable monies for research and education at the top of New Mexican Universities. What about New Mexico’s future? Hemp research could lead to a boost for the economy. Senator McSorley said that in the immediate future, “we envision exporting it across the border, just next door to Mexico, as they already use hemp for their automotive manufacturing processes,” before the cars are brought back into the USA for sale. If we do not act to pass these measures, “the continued economic slump of New Mexico will be exacerbated,” Senator McSorley acknowledged, “and within the rural areas of the state that are already suffering from the drought, their trials and tribulations will continue. The patients that need their medicine…are counting on us to deliver it.” Over the course of 2016, there was a huge increase in the number of medical cannabis users, from 18,600 to 35,000. This would not have been possible without Senator McSorley, although he says we could 65,000 patients by now if it were not for legislative neglect. He has successfully fought to reverse measures limiting the number of employees able to issue valid medical marijuana licenses, effectively shortening the amount of time before patients were able to have access to medicine! He carried the Lynn & Erin Compassionate Use Act and is ready to do more, as he assured me that, “one, it’s about the patients, two; it’s about the patients. Number three, it’s about the patients.” During this legislative session we have an opportunity to influence New Mexico’s economic and social responsibility agendas directly. At this point it is up to the people to speak for a better future for New Mexico, by calling your local representatives and most importantly, calling and emailing Governor Susana Martinez’s office to tell her why you think passing Senate Bills 6 and 8 are the right thing to do!
