Pot Politics

Susana Martinez to attend fundraiser hosted by aspiring marijuana businessman

Susana Martinez has been unabashed about her opposition to loosening marijuana laws since stepping into the governor's office nearly four years ago.

She underlined that stance in Sunday's debate with Democratic Party challenger Gary King, voicing her opposition to both legalizing recreational pot as well as decriminalizing possession of small amounts of it. There, she stated that the judicial system never throws people in prison for only small marijuana charges.

It wasn't unlike her comments on the subject throughout the past weeks on the campaign trial, where she reportedly dismissed decriminalization as a "horrible, horrible idea."

"When you start having young people have access to that marijuana as easily as they do other things, it really does impact them," Martinez told KOAT-TV earlier this month.

Yet the stance apparently isn't enough to stop candidate Martinez from taking money from a New Mexico businessman who is planning to start a recreational and medical marijuana dispensary in Colorado, which legalized recreational cannabis two years ago.

Charles "Randy" Briggs is planning to host Martinez at a $2,600-a-plate fundraiser at his home this Thursday, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Briggs, a Carlsbad native and ophthalmologist, is also listed as the business agent for Grandote Green LLC. The company applied for a commercial development license earlier this year to start a "marijuana medical and retail" business in La Veta, a tiny town of 800 in the south central region of Colorado.

Since May, Martinez' campaign has also pocketed at least $10,000 from a Charles R Briggs Trust, according to campaign finance reports.

Briggs' fundraiser this week will reportedly also feature former Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney. Over his long career, Briggs has headed companies and organizations that have designed contact lenses, managed commercial property and advocated an education formula called "FAST" in the school system.

Briggs isn't the first New Mexico entrepreneur to get involved in the increasingly mainstream marijuana business. Former Gov. Gary Johnson, who served two terms as a Republican, currently heads Cannabis Sativa Inc.

SFR reached Martinez campaign spokesman Chris Sanchez by phone this afternoon to ask about the contradiction between the campaign rhetoric and the fundraiser. Sanchez directed us to send him questions via email. He has yet to respond to our inquiries.

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