New Mexico

Algernon D’Ammassa, Las Cruces Sun-News Published 6:00 a.m. MT Nov. 11, 2020 | Updated 6:31 a.m. MT Nov. 11, 2020 CLOSE Business interests are lining up, years before New Jersey legalizes marijuana. But it won’t be easy to get your foot in the cannabis market. Here are three problems facing the weed industry. SANTA FE – In the winter legislative session, New Mexico lawmakers will once again consider legislation to decriminalize cannabis for recreational use in the state, though questions still remain over the scope of the legislation and whether licensed producers can meet the anticipated demand.  State Rep. Javier Martínez, […]

State lawmakers on the Economic and Rural Development Committee on Tuesday discussed a plan to dramatically overhaul New Mexico’s liquor license laws to make it easier for small-business owners and new entrepreneurs to start or expand a business amid the economic downturn spurred by the pandemic. Rep. Moe Maestas, an Albuquerque Democrat who chairs the committee, said the pandemic is prompting a conversation about possible wholesale change in a state where a limited number of liquor licenses are bought and sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Liquor licenses became a commodity,” Maestas said, decrying a price he called prohibitive […]

State lawmakers on the Economic and Rural Development Committee on Tuesday discussed a plan to dramatically overhaul New Mexico’s liquor license laws to make it easier for small-business owners and new entrepreneurs to start or expand a business amid the economic downturn spurred by the pandemic. Rep. Moe Maestas, an Albuquerque Democrat who chairs the committee, said the pandemic is prompting a conversation about possible wholesale change in a state where a limited number of liquor licenses are bought and sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Liquor licenses became a commodity,” Maestas said, decrying a price he called prohibitive […]

In this week’s episode of Growing Forward, the collaborative podcast between NM Political Report and New Mexico PBS, we take a look at education.  Dispensary employees must reach a certain level of required certification, but what kind of knowledge should patients expect from those who are dispensing their medication? Shanon Jaramillo runs a local cannabis education and staffing agency. She said her goal is to make sure New Mexico implements a new and rigorous education program in order to make sure dispensary employees are giving the best advice to new patients who may have never used cannabis before. Her concern […]

According to a recent poll, a large majority of voters in the state of New Mexico are in favor of legalizing adult-use, recreational cannabis with additional social equity provisions in place. The poll also showed that approximately half of voters support broader decriminalization of drug possession.  The support demographics for adult-use cannabis legalization based on party are as follows:  Democrats: 94% in favor  Republicans: 46% in favor  Independents: 93% in favor  Senior director of Drug Policy Action (DPA) New Mexico Emily Kaltenbach said that New Mexicans are ready to see equitable drug reform built into the legislative proposal to “help […]

An explosion that took place Thursday afternoon of last week in New Mexico is making headlines, as it took place inside a cannabis manufacturing facility and injured two. Local news sources report that two men were injured in the explosion last week, which took place at New Mexicann Natural Medicine’s facility based in Santa Fe. It is also noteworthy that less than five years ago, the plant made headlines for another explosion of a similar type.   Jimmy Vigil, New Mexico State Fire Marshal fire investigations bureau captain, reported that the incident is currently still under investigation by several different entities. […]

The two men were transported by air ambulance to a hospital. Their identities were not made public. The two men are currently in intensive care at a hospital in Denver, said Jimmy Vigil, New Mexico State fire investigations bureau captain. The employees were burned on their heads and torsos, said Greg Gurule, spokesman for the Santa Fe Police Department. Vigil said the incident is under investigation. Fire officials obtained two search warrants Friday for camera footage of dispensary. An explosion at the plant in 2015 severely burned two workers. OSHA fined the company $13,500 and cited it for 12 violations […]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two men are in critical condition after an explosion at a cannabis manufacturing facility in New Mexico. The explosion Thursday at the New MexiCann Natural Medicine facility in Santa Fe was the second explosion that has injured workers at the plant in the last five years, the Albuquerque Journal reported. The two men were transported by air ambulance to a hospital. Their identities were not made public. The two men are currently in intensive care at a hospital in Denver, said Jimmy Vigil, New Mexico State fire investigations bureau captain. The employees were burned on their […]

News By Associated Press Posted on October 15, 2020 The health department said the agency is complying with the ruling A state district judge cleared the way Tuesday for hundreds of patients to be re-authorized to participate in New Mexico’s medical marijuana program. The ruling stemmed from a challenge of a mandate issued in September and a subsequent emergency rule adopted by the state health department just weeks later that placed additional requirements on some patients with medical marijuana cards from other states. Ultra Health, the state’s largest cannabis company, asked the court to step in. It argued that the […]