Open a Dispensary in New Mexico

A big win in New Mexico as they recently legalized recreational Marijuana on April 12, 20201!

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed House Bill 2 on April 12, 2021 legalizing recreational marijuana. New Mexico is now the 17th state in U.S. and D.C. to legalize adult-use marijuana, allowing for marijuana possession and consumption for individuals 21 years and older. Access to marijuana is through state licensed marijuana businesses, and the Cannabis Control Division, will be responsible for regulating the adult-use marijuana program. Commercial sales of marijuana will begin no later than April 2022. Read on to learn how to open a dispensary in New Mexico and more.

The following marijuana business licenses will be issued for New Mexico’s new adult-use marijuana program:

Cannabis Producer License allows for the cultivation of cannabis plants; unprocessed cannabis products must be tested by a cannabis testing laboratory; transportation of unprocessed cannabis products are only to other cannabis establishments; and/or cannabis products are sold wholesale.

Licensing Fees: $2,500/year; $1,000/year for each additional licensed premises

Cannabis Manufacturer License allows a person to turn uncultivated cannabis into edibles, oils and other cannabis products; package cannabis products; test cannabis products by a cannabis testing laboratory; or purchase, acquire, sell or transport wholesale cannabis products to other cannabis establishments.

Licensing Fees: $2,500/year; $1,000/year for each additional licensed premises

Cannabis Retailer License allows a person to sell cannabis products to qualified patients, primary caregivers, reciprocal participants or directly to consumers.

Licensing Fees: $2,500/year; $1,000/year for each additional licensed premises

Vertically Integrated Cannabis Establishment License allows a person that is authorized to act as any of the following:

• a cannabis courier;
• a cannabis manufacturer;
• a cannabis producer; and
• a cannabis retailer.

Licensing Fees: $7,500/year; $1,000/year for each licensed premises; Not to exceed $125,000

Cannabis Producer Microbusiness License allows a cannabis producer at a single licensed premise to possess no more than two hundred total mature cannabis plants at any one time.

Licensing Fees: Up to $1,000/year

Integrated Cannabis Microbusiness license allows a person that is authorized to conduct one or more of the following:

• production of cannabis at a single licensed premises; provided that the person shall not possess more than two hundred total mature cannabis plants at any one time;
• manufacture of cannabis products at a single licensed premises;
• sales and transportation of only cannabis products produced or manufactured by that person;
• operation of only one retail establishment; and
• couriering of cannabis products to qualified patients, primary caregivers, reciprocal participants or directly to consumers.

Licensing Fees: Up to $2,500/year; $500/year for each additional licensed premises

Cannabis Courier Licenses allows a person to transport cannabis products to qualified patients, primary caregivers, reciprocal participants or directly to consumers.

Licensing fees: $1,500/year; $1,000/year for each additional licensed premises

Cannabis Consumption Area License has a similar concept to a microbrewery; an area where cannabis products may be consumed (alcohol cannot be sold or consumed)

Licensing fees: $2,500/year

Cannabis Research Laboratory License will allow a facility that produces or possesses cannabis products and all parts of the plant genus Cannabis for the purpose of studying cannabis cultivation, characteristics or uses.

Licensing Fees: $2,500/year; $1,000/year for each additional licensed premises

Cannabis Testing Laboratory License will allow a person to sample, collect, and test cannabis products and transport cannabis products for the purpose of testing.

Licensing Fees: $2,500/year; $1,000/year for each additional licensed premises

There will be no limits on the amount of license issued. Any qualified applicant can apply for a license. Within 90 days of deeming an application complete, the Division will grant or deny the license. Applicants may not have prior convictions, including felony convictions involving fraud, embezzlement, or deceit, or involving a minor in drug sales. It does not include cannabis convictions.

By June 2021, the new bill will go into effect and the cannabis regulatory advisory committee will be established and begin to accept license applications for cannabis producers, cannabis producer microbusinesses and any person properly licensed and in good standing as a licensed medical cannabis producer by September 2021. In January 2022, The Division is set to promulgate rules and begin accepting license application for all types of licenses, to then be ready for retail sales by April 2022.

We have a combined 20+ years of industry experience and have opened over a dozen cannabis facilities across the United States. Call (602)-290-9424 of email info@thecannabisbusinessadvisors.com to learn more about how we can help you open a dispensary in New Mexico.