September 30 – Santa Fe City Council unanimously voted Wednesday evening to pass local cannabis production and sale regulations that the state recently legalized for recreational use.
The new state law prevents local jurisdictions from being overly restrictive on commercial cannabis businesses and personal use of the substance. You are allowed to determine the size of the production rooms and the distance between cannabis plants and schools, churches and other facilities.
“This is an exciting new industry that our city will thrive on,” said Councilor Michael Garcia.
The city council added a 100-foot spacing requirement between cannabis companies and places of worship, similar to the buffer between cannabis companies and schools and daycare centers.
Garcia added zoning changes that would impose rules on cannabis companies similar to those on liquor suppliers, including rules for requesting waivers for the buffers.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Cannabis Regulation Act earlier this year, which legalizes the production, sale and use of recreational cannabis for people over the age of 21.
So far, 1,603 potential producers have applied for licenses – most of them micro-producers – and of those 72 have completed the process, said John Blair, deputy superintendent of the state’s regulation and licensing division.
“Much interest and few are complete,” said Blair.
The state is working to regulate cannabis retail establishments as well as cannabis use areas that would be like bars for cannabis use but wouldn’t serve alcohol, said Noah Berke, the city’s planning director, adding that the state would begin filing license applications for January 1st
The city’s new regulations are largely in line with what Santa Fe County approved in July.
New Mexico has started processing applications for producers, but Santa Fe doesn’t expect its rules to go into effect until October 1st. Recreational cannabis sales begin April 1st.
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According to the new Santa Fe regulations:
* Cannabis makers using volatile solvents would be limited to industrial areas.
* Any manufacturer presenting a “lower risk” to public safety would be allowed in zones that allow laboratory, light-weight fabrication, and assembly applications.
* Indoor production is recommended for industrial zones, while indoor or outdoor cultivation locations with a special usage permit are permitted in commercial and commercial / industrial park zones.
* Commercial cannabis retail stores can be open from 7am to midnight.
Also, cannabis companies licensed for multiple uses would need to be in an all-use zone and a minimum of 120 meters between cannabis retailers.
“Thanks to everyone who worked on it.” Councilor JoAnne Vigil Coppler said. “That is a very important law.”
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