Month: September 2020

Month: September 2020

Medical cannabis producer sues New Mexico agency, alleges overreach

Posted on by Marissa

Phaedra Haywood / Santa Fe New Mexican
Published on September 29, 2020

New Mexico’s largest licensed medical cannabis producer says in a new lawsuit the state Department of Health is once again overstepping its authority when it comes to regulating the drug.

New Mexico Top Organics Ultra Health says the Department of Health has created new rules that make it harder for people enrolled in medical cannabis programs in other states and those operated by tribal governments to obtain patient identification cards through the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program. The company’s complaint — filed Sept. 22 in state District Court — alleges rule changes announced Sept. 11 and the way they were created violate state laws.

Ultra Health prevailed in a previous lawsuit accusing the agency of overreach.

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Tax expert says there could be significant revenues in cannabis legalization, some lawmakers still skeptical

Posted on by Marissa

Andy Lyman / New Mexico Political Report
Published on September 23, 2020

Comments and questions raised on Tuesday during an interim legislative tax policy committee point towards lengthy debates on recreational cannabis legalization in the upcoming legislative session in January.

Richard Anklam, the president and executive director of the New Mexico Tax Research Institute, told lawmakers that states that were early in legalizing recreational-use cannabis like Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California have seen significant tax revenue increases in the past several years. Anklam, using a study from the Tax Foundation, a national think tank, said New Mexico could see roughly $70 million in excise taxes, before factoring in gross receipts taxes, if the state legalizes cannabis for recreational use.

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