NM Cannabis Status: Legal
With the passage of HB2 in the 2021 special session, the enactment of the Cannabis Regulation Act (CRA) is effective June 29, 2021. Retail sales will not go into effect until 2022. Medical use has been allowed since 2007. In fact, in 1978 New Mexico was the first state to enact a medical cannabis program. The newly formed governing body for the New Mexico cannabis program is The Cannabis Control Division (‘CCD’) which will be overseen by the New Mexico Department of Health.
Cannabis Business License Applications
There are currently over 50 licensed dispensaries in the state of New Mexico across 18 cities.
New Mexico will have no limit on the number of licenses.
Currently, under the New Mexico medical cannabis program the providers must operate as a nonprofit, and, based on the Department of Health’s licensing requirements, must have a board of directors. The board must have at least five members, at least one medical provider, a doctor, nurse, or physician’s assistant, and at least three patients who qualify for medical cannabis use.
Building Code
Building a dispensary in New Mexico is subject to both local municipal building inspections, which follows the universal building code, and also final inspection by the New Mexico Cannabis Control Division.
A dispensary in New Mexico is a state-licensed nonprofit producer.
The final New Mexico cannabis building inspections are done through the local municipal building department but operation approval also must pass inspection by the New Mexico Department of Health. Local building inspectors will inspect that all building code requirements and standard life safety items have been satisfactorily met in the cannabis dispensary and the New Mexico State Cannabis Control Division will inspect that the dispensary-specific requirements have been met such as proper surveillance, online monitoring, and required vault construction among other items.
Security Requirements
New Mexico has one of the most relaxed cannabis security requirements out of any state as it relates to cannabis. The New Mexico Department of Health oversees cannabis dispensary and cultivation security. However, most of the details of security is left up to the individual business.
The three security requirements are as follows:
- Security plan
- Security alarm system
- Product must be locked up in a safe overnight
New Mexico Cannabis
Trade Associations
New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce
From their website: “Our mission is to advocate on behalf of our member companies in the legislative, regulatory, legal, and public policy arenas to stimulate growth and sustainability of the New Mexico cannabis industry. We promote opportunities for cannabis businesses and entrepreneurs with a commitment to community, economic development, and access to safe, high-quality products.”
Mailing address:
933 San Mateo NE #500-351
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 886-2256
Cannabis News – Active Dispensaries
Full List of Cannabis Dispensaries in New Mexico
Albuquerque
Cannaceutics Inc 4316 Carlisle Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87107 (505) 672-8734
PurLife Dispensary 3821 Menaul Blvd NE Ste F Albuquerque, NM 87110 (505) 433-2672
R. Greenleaf Organics 10250 Cottonwood Park NW Albuquerque, NM 87114 (505) 899-0511
Bernalillo
Minerva Canna 113 W Hwy 550 Bernalillo, NM 87004 (505) 404-8182
Roswell
Pecos Valley Production 313 W Country Club Rd Ste 10 Roswell, NM 88201 (575) 812-8002
Santa Fe
Best Daze 4641 Airport Rd Ste 1 Santa Fe, NM 87507 (505) 585-4937
Kure Cannabis 220 N Guadalupe St Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 930-5339
Southwest Wellness Center 1829 Cerrillos Rd Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 372-7046