Adult possession and home growing of cannabis is now legal in New Mexico

Owning and growing cannabis at home is now legal in New Mexico for adults 21 and older – a landmark day for the Land of Enchantment. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham celebrated with the release of four infographics, which changes are effective immediately.

Under New Mexico’s Cannabis Regulation Act, adults 21 and older can legally: Possess, buy, and give up to two ounces of cannabis, up to 16 grams of concentrate, and up to 800 milligrams of cannabis-infused edibles to other adults. Adults can also grow up to six mature and six immature cannabis plants, up to 12 mature plants per household; Make cannabis-infused edibles at home, or even make extracts – as long as volatile solvents are not used. Adults can also have large amounts of cannabis if it is kept in a locked room at the person’s place of residence, hidden from public space; and own, manufacture and give away “utensils”.

“This is a milestone, a major step forward for both social justice and economic development in our state,” said Governor Grisham in a statement posted on her website. “We are proactively stopping the disproportionate criminalization of people of color for possession of cannabis and building a new industry that all New Mexicans can participate in – and that will earn our communities and our state millions of dollars.”

However, with sales not yet operational, it is unclear for now how people will get cannabis. It will be another 10 months or so before the adult stores hit the market. Governor Grisham signed the Cannabis Regulation Act after convening a special legislative session earlier this year to get its final approval. Legislation will regulate the sale of adult cannabis in New Mexico with a deadline no later than April 1, 2022. However, several provisions of the measure, including home growing and owning – the main ones – went into effect on June 29.

Half of the American population now comprises New Mexico

Today there are 18 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia that have passed laws regulating cannabis for adult use, as well as an overturned measure in South Dakota that is still on some counts. The official numbers will vary as some sources do not yet count states that are not yet operational.

According to NORML, an estimated 145 million Americans – about half the US population – live or live in a jurisdiction that allows adult cannabis to be used by law.

“Legalization is now a reality for nearly half the US population,” said Erik Altieri, executive director of NORML, referring not only to the first day of New Mexico, but also to the laws of Virginia and Connecticut that passed in came into effect the same week. “As more jurisdictions implement these sensible regulatory policies, it is imperative that Congress stop changing federal law to end the federal ban in a way that will please the will of voters in the ever-increasing number of states that have implemented it respects legalization. “With so many changes in one week, NORML had to address three states at the same time.

New Mexico’s Way to Recreation

New Mexico allows marijuana for both medicinal and recreational uses. Medical marijuana has been legal in New Mexico since it was signed in 2007 – with a compassionately long list of qualifying conditions, at least when compared to other states. These include rare inclusions such as Friedreich’s ataxia or obstructive sleep apnea.

The state offers reciprocity to patients using medical cannabis in other states, but this didn’t begin until March 1, 2020. It would be another 14 years for the state to switch to adult sales.

New Mexico’s House Bill 2, the Cannabis Regulation Act, legalizes and regulates cannabis for adults 21 and older. It passed the legislature on March 31, 2021 during Governor Grisham’s special session.

Recreational marijuana sales are slated to start April 1, 2022 and will include a 12 percent excise tax in addition to sales taxes of between five and nine percent. That means you won’t be able to enter a recreational cannabis store until April 1st if the regulatory structure goes in as planned.

New Mexico! The legalization of cannabis is here.
In #NM:

✅ The possession of cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over
✅ New Mexicans can grow up to 12 plants
✅ The trade in cannabis begins on April 1st, 22nd at the latest

We are changing the economic future of New Mexico for the better. #nmpol pic.twitter.com/nH3YkwDjHb

– MichelleLujanGrisham (@ Michelle4NM) June 29, 2021