On the same day that legislators opened discussions for launching weed sales in 2022, it became legal for New Mexico residents to grow, possess and smoke marijuana. The historic moment was a celebration for advocates and consumers of legal weed.
The criminal justice reform community lauded the move as a path towards challenging the disproportionate prosecution of poor and minority users. No longer can law enforcement use the scent of weed as probable cause for searching New Mexico property or vehicles.
Expanding Nation of Legal Weed
New Mexico joins 16 states that have pushed legal weed through the legislative process. The production has produced innovative solutions like “microbusiness” licenses. These will give somewhere in the vicinity of 200 pot plants the ability to initiate seed-to-sales cannabis operations.
State Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called the new law “a huge step forward both for social justice and economic development in our state.” She went on to say, “We are proactively stopping the disproportionate criminalization of people of color for cannabis possession, and we are building a new industry.”
Legalizing weed in New Mexico wasn’t an obvious move. Legalization discussions stalled until the governor convened a special legislative session. During the forum, cannabis reform was publicly tackled with legislators. The result was the signing of the new law in April 2021.
Residents 21 and over can now possess up to two ounces of marijuana. They are also allowed to grow six plants at home or a total of 12 in any household.
The state of New Mexico also founded the Cannabis Control Division. The committee has been dealing with controversies associated with the industry including dangers of overregulation and overuse of agricultural water to manage cannabis productions.
A leader in production and distribution, Kristina Caffrey, worries about these proceedings potentially overthinking and diminishing the industry’s possibilities. “A lot of these regulations will only perpetuate the illicit market,” she said. “Do they allow legal entrance to effectively compete?”
What’s Next?
The same day the law passed, regulators met to develop rules for the launch of weed sales in the upcoming year. The previous all-day hearing was public and the discussion included how to manage the cannabis business with licensing fees, audit requirements, quality controls, as well as how to conduct background checks on producers.
The sessions also considered boosting marijuana crops throughout the state’s medical cannabis industry. Right nowthere is a 1,750 limit on plants in the medical cannabis business. In a state of 2.1 million residents, medical marijuana enrollment has surpassed 100,000. Regulators are considering tripling current limits.
Beyond New Mexico
The legal weed campaign is alive and strong in over a dozen states as of this writing. Connecticut is making legalization a priority in the coming months, according to its governor, Ned Lamont. Other states looking at the possibility are Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia.
Medical cannabis legalization is on the table in Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska and Tennessee. Indiana and South Carolina are among states introducing both legalization and personal adult use bills alongside regulating medical marijuana use.
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