Portions of New Mexico’s adult-use cannabis law take effect today and adults 21-and-older can now possess up to two ounces of cannabis flower, up to 16 grams of concentrates, and grow up to six plants at home under the legislation passed earlier this year in a special session called by Gov. Michelle Lujan (D).
By September, the state must form the Cannabis Regulatory Advisory Committee and begin issuing licenses by Jan. 1 with retail sales expected by April 2022, which will carry a 12 % tax, which will eventually rise to 18%. Cannabis businesses will pay 5 to 9% tax on gross receipts.
The reforms also include automatic expungement provisions for low-level cannabis crimes, which, according to state records, will benefit over 150,000 New Mexico citizens. The legislation includes a process allowing those in prison for cannabis crimes the possibility to appeal their convictions, NORML reports.
On the day House Bill 2 was signed, NORML State Policies Manager Carly Wolf said, “New Mexico will greatly benefit from this new revenue stream and the creation of thousands of jobs.”
“Most notably though, legalization will spare thousands of otherwise law-abiding residents from arrest and a criminal record, and the state’s new expungement law will help provide relief to many who are suffering from the stigma and other collateral consequences associated with a prior marijuana conviction.”—Wolf in a blog post
With New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, and New Mexico all passing adult-use cannabis legislation, 2021 is shaping up to be a banner year for adult-use cannabis legalization. Provisions of Virginia’s and Connecticut’s cannabis reforms are set to take effect on July 1.
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