April 1 was not a “Fools Day” for the business marketplace in New Mexico. On that day the Land of Enchantment became one of eighteen US states that have legalized the recreational use of cannabis for individuals 21 years of age and older.
New Mexico’s neighbors to the west and north, Arizona and Colorado, as well as all west coast states, are part of the recent legal weed marketplace. However, New Mexico’s neighbor to the East, Texas, which borders parts of Lea County, is not moving in the direction of legalization.
State Lawmakers on Both Sides of the Coin
New Mexico lawmakers fall on both sides of the issue. “Supportive lawmakers hope legalization will eliminate black markets, boost employment and provide stable new sources of government income,” states an article posted at USNews.com.
Other lawmakers like State Rep. Greg Nibert of Roswell (R – District 59) are less supportive.
Rep. Nibert is on record upholding communities’ rights to adopt regulations about time and place of use. Rep. Nibert also expressed “…concern about the effects of cannabis use on the brain development of children, and on mental health.”
Sen. Gay Kernan of Hobbs, after noting that the majority of her constituents do not support the legalization of adult-use cannabis, voted in favor of the legislation, showing bipartisan support for the law.
However, it would be unlikely for legalization to have happened without Democratic control of the state legislature and governorship. Although former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson was one of the earliest supporters of legalization, as far back as the 1990s, his Republican Party has continually opposed the legalization of marijuana. At a federal level, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives recently passed a bill to legalize marijuana, however it is not expected to pass the Senate where Republicans could filibuster.
Ribbon Cutting OSO Cannabis Company
The Hobbs Chamber of Commerce states on its Facebook page that “Hobbs Chamber members represent all industries, all localities and all business sizes operating in and near Hobbs, and we continuously strive to earn 100 percent of the area’s licensed businesses as our members.”
Upholding this goal the organization spearheaded the Ribbon Cutting ceremony and Open House on Friday, April 1 of the OSO Cannabis Company in Hobbs . The new business is located at 1822 South Dal Paso Street.
Hobbs Mayor Sam Cobb opened the Ribbon Cutting ceremony. His remarks are streaming on a video posted on the Hobbs Chamber’s Facebook page. Mayor Cobbs said when presenting the “key of the city” to entrepreneur Amanda Rodriguez of OSO Cannabis, “As a tradition between the Hobbs Chamber of Commerce and the City of Hobbs, everytime there’s a new or expanding business in our community, we come out to welcome you and give you a key to the city. … What this key means is that we want you to be successful.”
Next to speak was Paco Hernandez, a member of the Hobbs Chamber Board of Directors. Hernandez presented the Hobbs Chamber’s “Certificate” to Rodriguez. Last to comment was Chamber Ambassador Paul Zielinski. On behalf of both the Hobbs and Hobbs Hispano Chambers, Zielinski presented the “Welcoming” certificate. Zielinski said, “We welcome [the OSO Cannabis Company] to business here in Hobbs, and we really appreciate your being here.”
Before the actual ribbon cutting Rodriguez thanked all in attendance. She said, “I look forward to meeting every one of you on the professional and recreational level. We are excited to have this event today and welcome you all to our establishment, and we look forward to meeting all of you.”
An Open House continued throughout the day. RockN’ Taco was there with food truck #2. The public had the opportunity to tour the Hobbs’ OSO’s dispensary, purchase recreational pot (only those 21 years of age and older) and learn more about the recreational cannabis scene in Lea County.
Legalization is still very new in the state of New Mexico, so locals can likely expect additional marijuana businesses to open up in the area, particularly as local regulations are ironed out and demand becomes apparent. In other states, such as California, the legal weed industry has had plenty of time to evolve, resulting in such innovations as marijuana food trucks and on-demand weed delivery.
Sales Abound On Day One
The Lea County Tribune does not have specific information about the dollars generated in Lea County through the sale of both medical and recreational cannabis products on day one. Word across the state, however, is that sales abounded.
According to a KRQE News report, statewide adult-use recreational cannabis sales topped 1.9 million by midnight on April 1. Heather Brewer, Director of Communications for New Mexico’s Cannabis Control Division said, “New Mexicans turned out today [April 1] in strong numbers to show their support for high-quality New Mexico products coming to them for the first time. The Cannabis Control Division is excited for all the consumers and all of the businesses that have been part of this historic day.”
KOAT News stated that the day one sales’ figure was over $2.75 million, including medical marijuana. As of noon on Sunday, April 3, “…more than 4.5 million in total have been recorded statewide.”
In an April 1 press release, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said about the launch of her state’s adult-use cannabis industry, “This is a historic day for New Mexico – the beginning of a new economic opportunity for entrepreneurs and communities across the state. With around 250 retailers licensed and ready to go on day one, New Mexico’s recreational cannabis industry is off to a strong start. With the dedicated work of legislators and advocates, we have crafted a well-regulated industry that is creating jobs, spurring economic activity, and generating revenue for state and local governments.”
New Mexicans may remain split on their support of the state’s new cannabis industry. However, few deny that the legalization of the adult sales of cannabis will prove a boom to economies on both the the local and state levels, providing tax dollars for less controversial issues.
