New Mexico Senate approves amendment to relax cannabis regulations

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New Mexico cannabis licensees could have an easier path to approval

It appears that operations for producers and manufacturers in the state of New Mexico could be greatly facilitated. According to the latest updates, the state Senate has just approved an amendment to the cannabis regulation bill so that this group of workers will not need to prove that they have water rights for their business. Regulation of the industry could be greatly relaxed if this measure continues on the path it is currently on.

While it is true that the margin of approval was quite narrow, the vote held earlier this week in the Senate was enough for an amendment to the cannabis regulation bill to be successful. The idea is that both manufacturers and producers of cannabis will not be required to prove that they have water rights to conduct their business.

The news was clearly welcomed by everyone in this working-class, but this was not the case for the New Mexico Acequia Association. The association’s executive director, Paula Garcia, says she is extremely surprised that the bill passed the Senate, especially since the group did not have time to intercede or even comment on the issue.

Previously, the legalization law in the Land of Enchantment stated that any cannabis company seeking an industrial license must first prove it had water rights, but that could soon be changing. “That paragraph was something we advocated for really strongly last year as part of the agreement to pass the Cannabis Regulation Act. When you get a cannabis license, you should demonstrate you have valid water rights,” Garcia said.

Senator Cliff Pirtle’s amendment seeks to turn things around. Pirtle said it is an unnecessary bureaucracy since the process alone will only serve to add a burden to other licensees, especially microbusinesses.