Richardson Backs Medical Marijuana Law

New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, who's been pushing for a law to legalize marijuana for medical use since he took office in 2002, will finally get a chance sign one. And he's not going to sweat the political consequences, he says. The bill that passed the New Mexico legislature Wednesday, will affect very few people, he observes.

"This is for medicinal purpose, for people that are suffering. My God, let's be reasonable," Richardson told reporters. "Give him credit. It's not something you do because you're going to garner great political support for it," said Brookings Institution political analyst Thomas Mann. (More Bill Richardson stories.)