March 1, 2024

SANTA FE — Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 6, a bill that makes several major changes to the Cannabis Regulation Act, including giving the Cannabis Control Division (CCD) of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (NMRLD) more enforcement powers to protect against unlicensed and illegal cannabis activity.

“The state is committed to supporting this new, flourishing industry so consumers are assured their cannabis products are safe and legitimate businesses thrive,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “We will continue to hold bad actors accountable and, when necessary, bar them from the New Mexico cannabis industry completely.”

“The changes made through this bill will give the Cannabis Control Division additional authority to help further eliminate the illicit market in New Mexico,” said Regulation and Licensing Department Superintendent Clay Bailey. “I thank the Governor and our bill sponsors and legislators for seeing this important piece of legislation through that will allow for a better, safer, more well-regulated cannabis industry in New Mexico.”

Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Sen. Katy Duhigg and Rep. Andrea Romero, includes the following changes, among others:

• Providing authority for the Cannabis Control Division of the NMRLD to obtain federal criminal history background check information on applicants
• Increasing criminal penalties for unlicensed cannabis activity
• Clarifying the amount of cannabis products that would result in a trafficking charge and increasing criminal penalties associated with trafficking
• Expanding the list of crimes that would prevent someone from getting a cannabis license
• Allowing individuals to possess both a license issued under the Liquor Control Act and a license issued under the Cannabis Regulation Act while prohibiting the co-location of the two license types
• Changing cannabis packaging requirements to further protect youth from accessing cannabis products

Since April 2022, the state has seen more than $678 million in adult-use sales with $75 million in excise tax reported through the end of January.

“By purchasing legal products from licensed businesses, cannabis consumers have shown that they support this new industry,” said Cannabis Control Division Director Todd Stevens. “The important changes made to the Cannabis Regulation Act should give the industry reassurance that the CCD will do everything in its power to support law-abiding licensees while removing those who jeopardize this industry.”