NM med marijuana user appeals lost rent subsidy

From the Santa Fe NewMexican.com - ALBUQUERQUE — A hearing officer on Wednesday will take up the case of a 70-year-old cancer patient who is appealing San Miguel County's decision to revoke his federal housing subsidy because he uses medical marijuana. Robert Jones joined New Mexico's medical marijuana program in October 2008 when he was diagnosed with cancer. The retired political consultant said he was upfront about it, telling county housing authority officials he used marijuana before signing a statement agreeing to follow a rule not to participate in drug-related criminal activity. "I wanted to make sure they didn't think that was criminal," he said. "They said, 'No, no, Mr. Jones, that's fine."' But the housing authority sent him a letter Oct. 12 telling him he would be dropped from the housing program as of Nov. 30. Although medical marijuana is legal in New Mexico, it's illegal under federal law, and his use violated the rule against drug-related criminal activity, the letter said. Jones takes exception to that description. "I certainly am not engaged in drug-related criminal activity," he said. Read more

NM med marijuana user appeals lost rent subsidy