This week on New Mexico in Focus, the co-hosts of the NMPBS podcast Growing Forward speak with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham about New Mexico’s new recreational cannabis laws, which legalize the practice starting at the end of June, with sales to begin a year from now. The package also provides for the expungement of certain cannabis-related crimes. The governor called a special session to push the legislation over the finish line and signed the bills into law shortly thereafter. Then, the pair speaks with former Gov. Gary Johnson, who was an early champion of legalization. The then-Republican took a lot of heat for his stance two decades ago and for his prediction that legalized cannabis was on the horizon. 

 

The Line opinion panel examines the entry of Jay Block into the race for the Republican nomination for governor. The Sandoval County Commissioner looks to take on Gov. Lujan Grisham in 2022. The group also weighs in on the revamp of the popular New Mexico True tourism program and the possible merger of PNM with an East Coast energy company. 

As the world celebrates Earth Day, environment correspondent Laura Paskus reflects on how we relate to the world that we inherited from our ancestors and borrowed from our descendants. 

New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, April 23 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 25 at 7 a.m.  

Host

Gene Grant  

  
Line opinion panel 

Merritt Allen, Vox Optima public relations 

Serge Martinez, UNM Law professor 

H. Diane Snyder, former state senator  

  
Segments 
Growing Forward with Governors 

Correspondents  

Megan Kamerick, co-host, Growing Forward podcast 

Andy Lyman, co-host, Growing Forward podcast 

Guests

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham 

Former Gov. Gary Johnson 

Look Up on Earth Day 

Correspondent  

Laura Paskus 

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and art issues, and explores them in-depth with a critical eye to give them context beyond the “news of the moment.”

The producer of New Mexico in Focus is Matt Grubs, with Kathy Wimmer, associate producer. The NM PBS Public Affairs executive producer is Kevin McDonald.

The McCune Charitable Foundation provides NMiF funding, along with viewers like you.

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