Ed Williams, Searchlight New Mexico Three months ago, New Mexico issued a $1 million fine to embattled Navajo marijuana grower Dineh Benally and — citing him for “egregious” violations — ordered him to shut down his Torrance County cannabis farm. Benally has done anything but. Instead of closing up shop, he has expanded his operation […]
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Mixed responses to suggestions from marijuana legalization work group
A group convened by the governor and tasked with crafting a framework for cannabis legalization released their full recommendations on Wednesday. Many of the recommendations from the Marijuana Legalization Work group are either consistent with or similar to legislation introduced in the 2019 legislative session. Those include protecting the medical cannabis program and its patients, […]
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House passes marijuana legalization, sends to Senate
After a three-hour debate Thursday night, the state House of Representatives by a narrow margin — 36-34 — approved a measure that would legalize recreational use of marijuana in New Mexico. Any resident 21 years or older would be allowed to buy, possess and use cannabis under the proposal, which also would create a state […]
Posted inCannabis
Dueling bills lay out different visions for recreational marijuana
Very different visions for legalizing cannabis in New Mexico are a bit closer to becoming reality after legislative hearings on Saturday. A bill that would legalize recreational cannabis for adults over 21 and task the state with licensing retailers to sell the product is headed to a vote of the full House of Representatives after […]
Posted inCannabis
Latest marijuana legalization effort begins in NM House
Recreational marijuana would become legal for people 21 or older in New Mexico and the state could tax marijuana sold in licensed stores under a bill introduced Thursday by state Rep. Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque. House Bill 356 would establish a licensing system that supporters say favors small businesses and institute a 9 percent tax on […]
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Despite increased acceptance, obstacles remain for legalizing recreational marijuana
A majority of New Mexico voters support legalizing recreational marijuana. And a governor who opposes the idea will leave office at the start of the year, giving hope to some supporters of the idea. But even if New Mexico’s next governor supports the legalization of recreational marijuana, a familiar obstacle would still stand in the […]
Posted inCannabis, Courts, Justice & Safety, Quick Reads
Sessions’ marijuana decision likely won’t impact medical marijuana
The U.S. Department of Justice does not appear to be concerned with medical cannabis producers or patients, including those in New Mexico, despite a memo Thursday from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Session that signaled a federal crackdown on legal marijuana. Sessions’ memo officially rescinded guidance from the Justice Department under former President Barack Obama regarding […]
Posted inCannabis, Politics & Elections
Burning questions linger about legalizing marijuana in ABQ
In less than a week, Albuquerque voters will cast ballots for the next mayor and in some districts, city councilors. Most candidates have straightforward ideas on how to improve the city, but one candidate is keeping true to his campaign modus operandi by proposing an idea that other candidates won’t even consider. Gus Pedrotty, the […]
Posted inCommentary
Give states freedom on marijuana
State-level cannabis legalization has become a sensitive issue in recent years. As states like Colorado, Nevada, California, and Washington vote to make recreational marijuana use legal, debate has intensified in New Mexico over whether to do the same. The marijuana debate is interesting in itself, but it also raises important constitutional questions. Should the federal […]
Posted inCannabis
Unclear how much state knows about wholesale medical marijuana sales
In New Mexico, lawmakers have debated acceptable uses of medical marijuana and some have questioned if cannabis producers are allowed to have enough medical cannabis to qualify as an “adequate supply” for patients. While politicians and medical cannabis advocates in Santa Fe argue over appropriate plant numbers, getting actual numbers from the agency that governs […]