Latest Article|September 3, 2020|Free
::Making Grown Men Cry Since 1992
5 min read
It’s taken over a year, but the Department of Agriculture is finally beginning the process of introducing hemp production to New Mexico.Back in March 2017, Governor Susana Martinez vetoed a couple bills that would have legalized state-regulated industrial hemp cultivation for research purposes. Luckily the good governor was called up on the issue when lawmakers filed a lawsuit against her over the vetoes. A judge for the state Supreme Court ruled against Martinez, saying she illegally vetoed the bills (along with eight others) a few months later, and the rest has been a waiting game.Until the Department of Agriculture announced that they wanted public comment on a set of hemp regulations. They set up five meetings to take place across the state this month “to develop a rule to accompany statutory language which allows the department of agriculture to administer an industrial hemp program.”Under the new rules, an individual or organization will need to apply annually for a license from the department to grow hemp. It might take up to five weeks to receive a response. Growers are required to pay licensing fees and pay for testing (to ensure the product is within the legal limit for THC by volume—hemp is just cannabis that has a THC level lower than 0.3 percent, according to these rules). Procedures have to be in place for destroying any hemp that tests too high in THC and is magically transformed into “cannabis.”Anyone caught growing hemp without a license will be given five business days to submit a valid application or destroy the plant. They could also be banned from applying for a license for up to five years.The fees can get pricey, so don’t expect to be growing hemp in your backyard anytime soon.The closest hearing will be held at the Los Griegos Center (1231 Candelaria Rd. NW), this Monday, Oct. 15, at 6pm. After public comment has been heard, a hearing officer will then make a recommendation on the final regulations.