SANTA FE – Recent attempts to legalize recreational marijuana use in New Mexico have come up short at the Roundhouse, but Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is laying the groundwork for a legalization bill to make it to her desk in 2020.

The first-term Democratic governor on Friday announced the creation of a Cannabis Legalization Working Group, a task force of at least 19 state lawmakers, Cabinet secretaries, law enforcement officials and medical marijuana executives that will study other states’ experiences with legalizing cannabis use.

The group, which will be led by Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis, has also been tasked with making recommendations to the governor that will be incorporated into proposed legislation.

“I want New Mexico’s introduction and management of recreational cannabis to be the envy of the country,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “We can and will incorporate lessons learned from other states so that New Mexico provides for a well-regulated industry that, crucially, does not infringe on or harm our expanding medical cannabis program, upon which so many New Mexicans rely.” [Read More @ Albuquerque Journal]