New Mexico was a hostile anti-marijuana state until 2018. However, the dawn of 2019 brought a pro-cannabis Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in the office, and things are now racing. The House Bill 356 (Cannabis Regulation Act) was voted upon by the House of Representatives in March and is now headed towards the Senate.
If approved, New Mexico’s legal, retail cannabis market would begin functioning July 2020 onwards. According to House Democrats, in the first year alone, cannabis legitimizing will generate 11,000 jobs, and bring in excess of $70 million tax revenue.
As of April 2019, the crop is still a schedule I(c) hallucinogenic substance in the Land of Enchantment, and carrying a bit over an ounce will make you a jailbird for 12-months.
Medical Marijuana
New Mexico has an expanding medical marijuana program. The program is governed by the New Mexico Department of Health. After initially having little confidentiality measures for cannabis businesses, the state amended its statutes to extend strong disclosure protection for the commercial establishments.
There are close to 71,000 registered patients in this southwestern U.S. state. They can legally obtain 8 ounces of medical product for 90 days, besides privately growing up to 16 plants. The 2018 medical sales amounted to a cool $199 million, while the projection for 2022 is a handsome $275 million.
Earlier in 2019, a bill brokered between some Republicans and Democrats would create New Mexico’s own state-operated cannabis dispensaries. The bill also carries a provision to subsidize medicinal weed for those with “debilitative medical conditions,” who cannot afford treatment.
CBD Oil Laws in New Mexico
In 2017, the then-Governor of state vetoed all measures requesting the creation of an industrial hemp program. However, the Supreme Court overruled the veto in 2018, thereby re-enacting House Bill 144 and Senate Bill 6 to allow the state to license farmers to cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes. The University of New Mexico (UNM) will govern the research program. For several months, the measure was parked in the Legislature, where terms regarding hemp testing, harvesting and breeding were getting finalized.
However, in April 2019, Gov. signed a bill to make hemp trade and processing easy in the state. The crop is expected to bring about $10 million to New Mexico before 2019 runs out.
Conclusion
The arrival of the 32nd Governor of New Mexico in 2019 is rapidly changing the state’s anti-marijuana status. The HB 356 (Cannabis Regulation Act) was voted upon by the House of Representatives in March and is now headed towards the Senate. If approved, New Mexico’s legal, retail cannabis market would begin functioning July 2020 onwards.
The state has an ever-expanding medical marijuana program, which serves about 71,000 registered patients, who contributed $199 million in 2018 medical sales. Lastly, in April 2019, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill to make hemp trade and processing easy in the state.
