89.9 FM Live From The University Of New Mexico
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Border Patrol Line Hazy On Medical Marijuana

Wiki Creative Commons

New Mexico’s Democratic Congressional delegation is teaming up with a state lawmaker in an appeal to the US Customs and Border Patrol to change their policy of seizing medical marijuana. 

The federal government has said as long as states abide by 8 specific guidelines - like not selling marijuana to minors or allowing people to drive under the influence – they won’t prosecute for marijuana. However, Border Patrol agents continue to confiscate medical pot. 

People living in and around Las Cruces are affected quite a bit because every single road leading out of the state’s second largest city has a border checkpoint.

Democratic Representative Bill McCamley of Las Cruces says that means people who have been legally prescribed medical marijuana cannot travel with their medicine. 

"For instance PTSD patients, veterans, who get cannabis cards to help with their situation," McCamley explains, "can't go up to their group therapy session in Albuquerque at the VA without having their medicine seized."

Lawmakers argue that theCBP’spolicy is inconsistent with other federal agencies and that it discriminates against medical marijuana users like cancer patients and veterans.

McCamley says the Border Patrol has not responded.

Correction: This story originally reported that Bill McCamley said Homeland Security had not responded to letters from lawmakers. We regret the error. 

Related Content