Happy New Year folks! A lot has happened in the past month. The Cannabis Control Division finalized the rules for Rec about three weeks ago and is issuing more and more licenses.
With all of this and recreational sales fast approaching, we decided to spend some time with a local cannabis company that stands out on the Santa Fe scene. Father and son Len and Eli Goodman opened Best Daze on Airport Road in 2018. The elder Goodman founded New MexiCann Natural Medicine – which he left after a divorce – after becoming one of the first people in the state to be licensed to grow cannabis for medical patients back in the day. One of his main reasons for entering the industry: to make it easier for people on low incomes to access their medicines. So it made sense to be on the Southside. The company expands with a new store on Mercer Street while staying true to its roots and putting its employees and long-time patients first.
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The Neighborhood Pharmacy
Cannabis company Best Daze is staying true to its Southside roots and expanding as the recreational market approaches
Ready to go
The Cannabis Control Division of the Regulation and Licensing Division announced on December 28 that the final rules for cannabis producers, retailers and couriers are now in effect (the Producer Rules were finalized at the end of August). A notable retail rule: Minors are not allowed in pharmacies. The Cannabis Regulatory Advisory Committee recommended in November that children be allowed into retail stores with their parents or legal guardians, with some committee members raising concerns that parents could face difficulties purchasing cannabis if they were unable to bring their children with them. However, the department rejected that recommendation, opting instead to limit access to those who are 21 years of age or older, or who are at least 18 years of age and have a medical or basic care card. “The Cannabis Control Division carefully reviewed all input – from stakeholders, the public, companies and the Cannabis Regulatory Advisory Committee – to age guidelines for cannabis retail outlets,” spokeswoman Heather Brewer wrote in an email to SFR. The department also launched a public portal last month to enable searches for applications and licensees.
patient limit
Second Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Chavez last month dismissed a lawsuit seeking to give medical cannabis patients the same purchasing restrictions as non-patients. The state’s medical program allows patients to purchase up to 8 ounces of flower every three months. But under the Cannabis Regulation Act, which does not limit the number of purchases possible, a person could hypothetically make five trips to a dispensary and each time purchase the maximum amount — 2 ounces of flower — and purchase 2 ounces more than a patient in a period of 90 days is allowed. “The petitioner has failed to demonstrate that he, like qualified patients, qualified caregivers and mutual patients, have a clear legal right to purchase an additional two ounces of medicinal cannabis, which is at this time tax free under the Cannabis Regulations Act. ‘ wrote Chavez in his Opinion. In a statement to the New Mexico Political Report, Dominick Zurlo, director of the medical program, praised Chavez’s decision. State Senator Jacob Candelaria, an attorney representing the patient who filed the lawsuit, said they are considering next steps.
water concerns
In its final episode of 2021, Growing Forward, a joint podcast between New Mexico Political Report and New Mexico PBS, focused on water. There has been much speculation and concern, including in the Roundhouse, about how much water the cannabis industry will use. John Romero of the State Engineer’s Water Allocation Program said the exact amount is unknown because “it’s still relatively new to us and fairly new nationally,” but that some studies have shown “it’s about six gallons per plant per day for the Growth phase.” Securing legal access to water is a licensing requirement for cannabis companies that Romero and his team must review, adding work to an already strained department.
Cannabis and COVID-19
Certain cannabinoid acids may help fight COVID-19, researchers at Oregon State University report. In a study published last week in the Journal of Natural Products, cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid were found to be effective against multiple viral variants, either preventing or shortening infections by binding to the virus’s proteins and interfering with their ability to bind to receptors in human cells. The research team studied non-psychoactive hemp compounds, not THC, which campus rules ban because it is a controlled substance. “I envision oral delivery in the form of a dietary supplement like a pill or an oil or a gum or something,” said Dr. Richard van Breemen, first author of the study, told VICE News. “We all know that if we are exposed, we all worry about getting sick. This is the time when I would recommend taking a dietary supplement that can help prevent infection. But I am not advocating these special compounds as a treatment or cure for someone who is hospitalized and critically ill.”
Growing bipartisan support
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said last week that he doesn’t think people should be jailed for low-level cannabis possession — the same day Austin officials confirmed a ballot initiative to pass local decriminalization. In response to questions at a campaign press event, Abbott, who is up for re-election this year, said Texas was “taking steps” to reduce penalties for cannabis, but he falsely claimed that possession was a Class C misdemeanor in the state. In fact, possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana remains a Class B misdemeanor, with a penalty of up to 180 days in prison and a maximum fine of $2,000. Still, proponents say the Republican governor’s comments are significant. “Elected officials in Texas — both Democrats and Republicans — agree that we should no longer arrest people for small amounts of marijuana,” Heather Fazio, director of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, told Marijuana Moment. “It’s a waste of resources, it unfairly derails lives, and it’s time lawmakers took action so law enforcement can focus on real crimes.”
Movement in DC
Congressional Democrats are gearing up for sweeping cannabis reform this spring. “The growing bipartisan momentum for cannabis reform shows that Congress is poised for progress in 2022, and we are closer than ever to aligning our cannabis policies and laws with the American people,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, and Barbara Lee, D-California, wrote in a memorandum to the Congressional Cannabis Caucus last month. The memo outlines dozens of bills, including removing federal scheduling, wiping criminal records of thousands of people affected by Prohibition, and giving industry access to banking services like commercial loans and checking accounts.
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