New Mexico’s Cannabis Industry Struggles Against Criminal Exploitation And Regulatory Failures
Despite achieving over $1 billion in sales since the legalization of recreational cannabis 29 months ago, New Mexico’s cannabis industry is grappling with severe regulatory challenges. A year-long investigation by KRQE’s Larry Baker has uncovered serious regulatory issues in New Mexico’s cannabis industry, which has attracted lawbreakers and crime networks.
Lack Of Regulatory Oversight
According to the report, the Cannabis Control Division (CCD) is under-resourced, with only nine inspectors overseeing 3,000 licensed cannabis businesses. This understaffing has led to a situation where many operations go uninspected, allowing criminal enterprises, some linked to international criminal networks in Mexico and China, to thrive without scrutiny. This loophole could be the result of the state’s licensing process.
In a podcast interview with KRQE, Duke Rodriguez, CEO of Ultra Health, New Mexico’s largest cannabis operator, highlighted the gravity of the situation, revealing that two-thirds of the state’s cannabis activity remains illicit. He criticized …