Sandoval News

New Mexico might consider legislation to introduce recreational marijuana use to the state after hearing testimony regarding the economic benefits of it.

Last week, legislators heard testimony from several individuals and groups, including the chairman of the governor's Cannabis Legalization Working Group, Albuquerque city councilman Pat Davis, according to KOB4.

Davis said that legalizing recreational marijuana would bring in 11,000 jobs and more than $50 million in tax revenue, according to KOB4.

Republican State Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, will even consider voting in favor of a recreational cannabis bill as long as it addresses concerns of public safety.

"Just because something's going to bring in a lot of tax dollars  doesn't mean we should rush into something so we really need to make  sure that we look at it closely, that we do protect children, we find a  way that if hopefully eliminates as much of the black market as  possible – those are the things that we really need to look at," Pirtle said to KOB4.