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u.s. news Diamars 13 aPriL 2021

New Mexico governor set to sign recreational marijuana bill

(AP) — New Mexico Gov. legalization efforts faltered.
Michelle Lujan Grisham Legislators rallied behind a
was set Monday to sign legalization framework from
legislation that will le- state Rep. Javier Martinez of
galize recreational mari- Albuquerque that provides
juana use and sales in the automated procedures for ex-
state, making it the sev- punging past pot convictions.
enth since last November The bill gives the governor
to do so. a strong hand in oversight
of recreational marijuana
The governor, a Democrat, through her appointed su-
has supported marijuana re- perintendent of the Regula-
form as a way to create jobs tion and Licensing Depart-
and shore up state revenue. ment.
Her office in an advisory Regulators can put a cap on
said she was scheduling a marijuana cultivation quan-
bill signing ceremony and tities and impose a per-plant
news conference for later in state fee of up to $50 a year.
the day. New Mexico vot- Some of the state’s medical
ers ousted ardent opponents marijuana producers lobbied
of legalization from the state for market controls amid
Senate in the 2020 Demo- concerns that marijuana pric-
cratic primary, opening the es might plummet with the
way for legalization of recre- legalization of recreational
ational marijuana. marijuana, undermining in-
The governor called a special vestments and employment. up to 2 ounces (28 grams) Home marijuana growers per household. The scent of
legislative session to tackle People age 21 and over will of marijuana outside their will be allowed to grow up marijuana will no longer be
the issue in late March after be allowed to buy and possess homes. to six plants per person, or 12 grounds for police seizures.

Judge refuses to sequester jury in George Floyd murder case

(AP) — The judge in the said that some narrowing I think he would have gone
George Floyd murder case of the arteries is extremely home, or wherever he was
refused a defense request common, and that Floyd had going to go.”
to immediately seques- a mildly thickened or mildly Nelson responded: “So, in
ter the jury Monday, the enlarged heart but that that other words, if he had got-
morning after the killing would be normal in someone ten in the squad car, he’d be
of a Black man during a with high blood pressure. alive.”
traffic stop triggered un- Corroborating other ex- Derek Chauvin, 45, who is
rest in a suburb just out- perts’ testimony, Rich said white, is charged with mur-
side Minneapolis. that Floyd was “restrained in der and manslaughter in
a life-threatening manner,” Floyd’s May 25 death. Police
The request came from the noting among other things had been called to a neigh-
attorney for former Minne- that he was facedown on the borhood market where Floyd
apolis police Officer Derek ground, a knee was on his was accused of trying to pass
Chauvin. Defense attorney neck, his hands were cuffed a counterfeit bill.
Eric Nelson argued that the behind his back and being Prosecutors say Chauvin had
jurors could be influenced by pushed upward, and a knee his knee on Floyd’s neck as
the prospect of what might bang grenades. to a lack of oxygen. was on the lower half of his the 46-year-old Black man
happen as a result of their Prosecutor Steve Schleicher When testimony resumed body. lay pinned to the pavement
verdict. argued against sequester- Monday morning, Dr. Jona- Rich said that as one officer for 9 1/2 minutes. Bystander
“Ultimately, your honor, the ing the jury, saying: “I don’t than Rich, a cardiology ex- noted on video that Floyd video of Floyd crying “I can’t
question becomes will the think that would be an ef- pert from Northwestern Me- was passing out, police prob- breathe!” until he finally
jury be competent to make a fective remedy.” He also op- morial Hospital in Chicago, ably still could have saved his went limp sparked protests
decision regardless of the po- posed questioning the jurors. echoed earlier witnesses in life if they had repositioned and scattered violence in
tential outcome of their deci- “World events happen,” saying Floyd died of low oxy- him so that his lungs could Minneapolis and around the
sion,” Nelson said. Schleicher said. “And we can’t gen levels from the way he expand again. And once an U.S.
Judge Peter Cahill said he have every single world event was held down by police. officer noted that Floyd’s Chauvin’s attorney is ex-
will not sequester the jury that might affect somebody’s He rejected defense theo- pulse had stopped, police still pected to call his own medi-
until next Monday, when he attitude or emotional state or ries that Floyd died of a drug had a significant opportunity cal experts to make the case
anticipates closing arguments anything be the grounds to overdose or a heart condi- to save his life by administer- that it was not the officer’s
will begin. He also denied come back and re-voir dire tion. Floyd had fentanyl and ing CPR, he said. knee that killed Floyd. The
a defense request to ques- all the jurors.” methamphetamine in his On cross-examination, Nel- defense has not said whether
tion jurors about what they The judge previously told the system and had high blood son tried to shift blame onto Chauvin will testify.
might have seen about un- jury to avoid the news during pressure and narrowing of Floyd for struggling with po-
rest following Sunday’s po- the trial. the heart arteries, according lice when they tried to put
lice shooting of 20-year-old The ruling came as the trial to previous testimony. him in their car. The defense
Daunte Wright in Brooklyn entered its third week, with “It was the truly the prone attorney asked Rich if Floyd
Center. the prosecution close to restraint and positional re- would have survived if he
In the wake of the shooting, wrapping up its case and giv- straints that led to his asphyx- had “simply gotten in the
hundreds of protesters broke ing way to the start of the de- iation,” Rich said. back seat of the squad car.”
into about 20 businesses at a fense. Prosecutors built their In fact, the expert said, “Ev- But Rich quickly reiterated
shopping center, jumped on case on searing witness ac- ery indicator is that Mr. Floyd the death was caused by the
police cars and hurled rocks counts, experts condemning had actually an exceptionally officers’ actions: “Had he not
and other objects at police in Chauvin’s use of a neck re- strong heart.” been restrained in the way
Brooklyn Center. Officers in straint, and medical authori- Rich said he had reviewed in which he was, I think he
riot gear fired gas and flash- ties attributing Floyd’s death Floyd’s autopsy report. He would have survived that day.