The state Supreme Court is to consider an elections dispute involving two counties that want to poll their voters in the November general election about lowering penalties for marijuana possession.
The state Supreme Court has scheduled a Friday hearing on whether state law allows nonbinding ballot questions.
Santa Fe and Bernalillo counties have approved ballot measures to survey their voters whether they support decriminalizing marijuana. Bernalillo County also wants to ask voters about a possible tax for mental health services.
The counties went to the Supreme Court after Secretary of State Dianna Duran refused to place the advisory questions on ballots.
A federal court on Thursday rejected a request by Duran to resolve the ballot dispute. That has cleared the way for the Supreme Court to make a ruling.
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