Las Cruces Prepares for the Start of the Cannabis Industry

LAS CRUCES, NM – The Las Cruces City Council reviewed the conditions and restrictions that will be enforced in the state of New Mexico, ahead of the start of the adult-use cannabis industry, which will be launched in the entity as of April 1, 2022.

New Mexico will become the 17th state to legally allow recreational marijuana to be produced, sold and consumed by adults 21 and older.

The Council was informed on Monday, March 28 that so far, 72 cannabis license applications have been initiated with the New Mexico State Control Division, which will regulate the new industry.

In Las Cruces alone, current registrations include 13 producers, four micro-businesses, one manufacturer, one courier, three locations for medical sales and 18 for recreational marketing.

To date, city officials have not filed a concentration of business registration applications for any area where cannabis will be available.

Zoning conditions for adult-use cannabis sales and uses will include that marketing and consumption not occur within 300 feet of any school or daycare; there will also be restrictions for indoor use only.

Also, a cannabis retailer or microbusiness must operate at least 300 feet from any single-family residential zone; cannabis microbusinesses in the city’s EE (Equestrian Estate) and REM (Single-Family Residential Estate Mobile) zoning districts will have to apply for special use permits to operate.

In addition, microbusinesses in the EE and REM districts will be limited to 200 mature plants or less, must cultivate on permitted sites, and all species must be in a fully enclosed building that is at least 100 feet from any residence.

Any deviation from the distance to these regulations will require a Special Use Permit or Variance depending on the type of deviation, the City Council reported.

Source: MEXICONOW Staff