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5
ABOUT THE PETITION PROCESS

The city charters in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe permit voters to petition the city
councils to enact new laws or change existing ones.
While the technical rules are slightly different in each city, they are alike in that they
both require us to gather signatures from a large number of voters in order to ask for
an election on a question. In ABQ we need just over 11,000 signatures from
registered voters. In Santa Fe, we need about 5,600.
Anyone can collect signatures, but only from registered voters. It is against the law
for someone to sign for another person. We conduct quality control checks to ensure
that canvassers are following the rules. Each signature will also be verified by the
city clerk.

THANK YOU! This takes a lot of dedicated people working hard to make this
happen.
You are responsible for your petitions. Please bring them back to us when you are
done (hopefully, when they are full!) Please return all the petitions (even if they
were torn or had coffee spilled on them).
If you are canvassing on private property (like a grocery store or coffee shop),
please respect the wishes of the property owner/manager. Most people dont
mind you speaking to customers coming in/out of the store but you should ask
permission.
Please return completed petition sheets to us on FRIDAY of each week. You may
return them to:
Albuquerque Albuquerque Santa Fe
ProgressNowNM
625 Silver Ave SW #320
(Downtown)
505.312.8509
New Mex. Fed. of Labor,
2300 Buena Vista Dr SE
#126
505.262.2629
Drug Policy Alliance
343 E. Alameda Dr.
505.923.3277

We are happy to arrange for someone to pick them up and bring you new ones, as
well.
If someone has questions you cant answer, just call us at any of those offices or
refer them to the website: ReducePenalties.com

VISIT OUR ONLINE VOLUNTEER CENTER FOR MORE INFO
ReducePenalties.com/volunteer





What will reducing penalties do?
Simply put, the proposed "Reducing Marijuana Penalties Act" makes possession of less than one
ounce of Marijuana, and paraphernalia, an infraction punishable by no more than a $25 fine. No
person charged under city ordinance would be incarcerated.

Under current city code, possession of small amounts of marijuana carries a $50 fine and 15 days in jail for the
first offense and a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for subsequent offenses (Ord. 12-4-9).

What about state law?
Under NM state law it is still a crime to possess marijuana, but if passed, police in Albuquerque
would be able to choose to enforce the city ordinance instead of the harsher state law. Judges
also have the same discretion at sentencing.

We know our police have more important issues to focus on. A public vote approving the new law
gives officers and judges support for choosing to apply voter approved lower penalties.

Why just change Albuquerques law? How does this citizen petition process work?
Albuquerques city charter is just one a few in the state that permits citizens to propose or
amend laws by citizen petition. The law requires us to collect the signatures from about 11,000
registered city voters in order to require the city council to change the law or hold an election.
State law can only be changed by the legislature.

Who is part of this campaign?
This campaign is 100% grassroots led and supported by New Mexicans taking responsibility to
reforming our own marijuana laws. To comply with campaign finance laws, Drug Policy Action and
ProgressNow New Mexico formed Practical Policies NM PAC, a political action committee supporting
campaigns to reduce penalties for marijuana possession across New Mexico.

Paid for by Practical Policies NM PAC, M. Garcia, Treas. Printed in house.
CAMPAIGN TO
REDUCE MARIJUANA PENALTIES in ABQ
Sign the petition to let voters decide this November
We don't do this alone. Visit our Find Your Friends page.
Many of your Facebook and Twitter friends are already supporters of the campaign.
http://reducepenalties.com/findyourfriends

VOTE
FOR
reducing
MARIJUANA
penal ti es
SIGN THE PETITION
HERE!
ARE YOU:

A CITY RESIDENT?
REGISTERED TO VOTE?

YOU CAN SIGN!
Paid for by Practical Policies NM PAC, M. Garcia, Treas. Printed In House.
REDUCE PENALTIES.COM