It seems that almost 900 New Mexicans are eager to grow recreational marijuana now that the state has legalized it.
Speaking to KOAT Action 7, Indy White is with Purlife, an Albuquerque-based medical marijuana dispensary who is preparing to serve the legal market.
“What we’re trying to do is be able to grow on a larger scale to be able to serve more of New Mexicans, not just the medical cannabis patients,” White said.
Commercial recreational applications opened last Wednesday in the state and so far the New Mexico Licensing and Regulation Department is seeing big demand.
So far, we have a total of 897 initial applications,” remarked Linda Trujillo, superintendent of the Licensing and Regulation Department.
Trujillo said they plan on approving as many applications as possible.
“There is no limit on the applications for licensure are not going to close and the number of licenses is not limited,” Trujillo added.
“You must prove that you’ve got access to water rights or that you have access to a water municipality. You’re going to have to prove that,” Trujillo warned however.
Trujillo said that applications must be approved or denied within a 90-day period, she expects it to take only four or five days.
Once licenses are approved growers can begin growing, producers can start at 8,000 plants and micro-businesses can start at 200 plants.
“The more you have, the better it’s going to make for a much stronger application. Absolutely. Another thing is to focus on some of the zoning restrictions, especially when it comes to growing,” White said
“Basically any industrial area, most commercial areas are open for cannabis production unless they’re within three hundred feet of a school or a daycare,” said Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis.
