By: Chris Isham
PORTALES, N.M. – As of June 29, 2021, cannabis is legal to possess and use in New Mexico. Many people have casually said they are perplexed about the laws or even how to grow their own flowers.
The 2021 New Mexico Legislative Special Session recently voted to pass House Bill 2: THE CANNABIS REGULATION ACT (HB 2) to legalize recreational cannabis use within the State of New Mexico and its citizens.
Photo Courtesy of SFreporter.com
On April 12, 2021, New Mexico Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB 2, calling it “…a significant victory for New Mexico.” Before the NM Legislative Session would consider the HB2 legislation, the regular 2021 Legislative Session ended. The bill would draft, pass committees, and pass the House and Senate in only two days during the March 2021 Special Session.
Lujan Grisham continued to stay, “Workers will benefit from the opportunity to build careers in this new economy. Entrepreneurs will benefit from the opportunity to create lucrative new enterprises. The state and local governments will benefit from the additional revenue.
“Consumers will benefit from the standardization and regulation that comes with a bona fide industry. And for those who have been harmed by this country’s failed war on drugs, disproportionately communities of color, will benefit from our state’s smart, fair, and equitable new approach to past low-level convictions.”
HB 2, the Cannabis Regulation Act, legalizes and regulates cannabis for adults age 21 and older. This legislation was passed on March 31, 2021.
HB 2 allows adults to possess, purchase and give other adults up to two ounces of weed, up to 1 pound of concentrate, and 800 mg of edibles. A user can also grow six plants, but no more than 12 plants and users can create their cannabis flavored foods.
This law causes communities all over the State of New Mexico to quickly change their regulations.
University President and Chancellor Dr. Patrice Caldwell, not surprised about the bill’s passage stating that it was well-publicized.
“[ENMU campuses] have a policy in place for controlled substances, and we do have minors on campus. This is not a trivial issue for us. We are following the same protocol that we have for any controlled substance, including alcohol or cigarettes. It’s legal to use, but not on our campuses.”
Dr. Caldwell continues to say that ENMU concluded “a campaign with our students so that they understand it. We have informed faculty and staff, who I think understood it just fine. Still, we have students coming from all over the state, and they may not have been as aware of the specific requirements for that legislation.
Student Body President & Curry Hall Director Cameron Colson said, “We do talk about this a little bit on campus.”
“I’m trying to understand the rules because we are a federal institution personally.”
Colson talks about how ENMU is helping students distinguish the side effect of weed (such as what being high looks like). “Students are trained with the Safe Ride program, which can help students get home if they are intoxicated.”
“We cannot allow cannabis in our housing development or on campus.” He continues, “even though there are designated smoking areas on campus, those are not for cannabis.”
Colson does not believe that cannabis will ever likely be allowed on the campus grounds.
Thus, the law explains that municipalities may allow outdoor cannabis smoking and vaping for people aged 21 and older. Local cities and counties may not forbid weed nor outlaw home growing. Senate Bill 2 allows automatic expungement.
“The campus is treating cannabis usage as a way to educate students’ unhealthy recreational drug usage.”
“[The cannabis movement] marks the change into recognizing that students are using recreational drugs besides alcohol. I think the administration could do a lot more in discussing a healthy use of cannabis in their recreational use, not on campus.”
When asked for an interview for this story, the Chief of Police said in an email, “I would respectfully reserve comment. I don’t make these laws; I just enforce them.” Bradley D. Mauldin, Chief of Police – Director of Public Safety at ENMU.
Chief Mauldin also shared some resources from the Roosevelt County DWI task force.
“We have a wonderful Campus Police and Department of Public Safety.” Dr. Caldwell says, “They are great at saying, ‘Now you understand that if you cross the street, no problem. If you’re on our property, it’s not legal.’
That’s how we’re handling it.”
Could ENMU begin to prepare the workforce for the booming industry in New Mexico?
Northern New Mexico College is offering a cannabis course called ‘The Cannabis Establishment Technician Course”.
Cameron Colson mentioned that a cannabis curriculum would be an interesting development, like breweries in New Mexico. Colson noted that the way that the House Bill sets it up is to create businesses and jobs. “HB 2 sets up jobs and all those sorts of things. There’s a lot to learn about that sort of a program, but I think there’s also not enough time currently to have enough experience to teach a program like that.”
Dr. Caldwell stated, “We are looking at that. I think there is less of an interest in the horticultural side and more on the manufacturer marketing side right now, but that could change.”
“In terms of the numbers of farmers in this area of New Mexico, “I believe there are some growers in the county, but I don’t think it’s equal to the numbers in other parts of the state.”
Dr. Caldwell mentions that “we are talking to SeedCrest, based in New Mexico, but I think their presence goes beyond New Mexico.”
“They do have an online curriculum.”
The curriculum Dr. Caldwell is referring to is offered through another regional NM university.
According to SeedCrest, https://seedcrest.io, they are based out of Albuquerque, NM. They have over 50 cannabis and hemp companies in New Mexico. Furthermore, they have over 10,000+ cannabis professionals who have joined them since 2016.
“This is a new area for us, but we just discussed that with the Regents at our last meeting, which was a week ago, September 10, 2021, meeting. [The Regents and ENMU Administration] are looking at it, and we will be open to investigating it.”
“There will be some, I think, resistance to that in the county, but I don’t think that prevents us from looking at the options.”
Moreover, in Albuquerque, a group called Mama and the Girls wants to help individual growers. That interest shows there is an expressed demand.
Mama and the Girls is applying for their dispensary license, but they want to help their customers and clients thrive for now.
Their two owners set up free classes in the park, and anyone who shows up will teach people various tips and ways to help tackle all aspects of cannabis.
“One of the first things we did was hire attorneys to run everything by them because it is unclear what is currently legal and what is not currently legal, and there is a lot of grey areas in between,” Co-owner Goold said.
Colson stated that numerous cannabis dispensaries are showing up around Portales and Clovis, which is a sign of economic growth.
The mayor of Portales never reached back to this story for comment.
Another university in the state is offering continuing education classes.
The New Mexico Department of Health has a medical cannabis program on its website. The next scheduled Medical Advisory Board Meeting is scheduled for December 7, 2021.
