The Cannabis Issue

Air redolent with spring smells also carries the many aromas of cannabis in New Mexico: The distinct twinge of smoke, the skunky odor of cultivation and the healthy whiff of new money.

This month marks one full year of adult-use cannabis sales in the state and there’s no doubt the new market has attracted out-of-state companies with deep pockets and experience elsewhere. So, SFR checked in with a few new local business owners about their plans to stay relevant in a market some say is on the verge of oversaturation. We also compiled a Santa Fe Green Directory for those who want to try out both the new and old pot shops.

New Mexico’s head cannabis regulator Linda Trujillo, secretary of the Regulation and Licensing Department, explains her perspective on the adult-use industry’s first year. With more than $300 million in taxable sales since inception, the state collected $18 million in new cannabis excise taxes and passed cash along to cities and states where sales took place. Discussions of how to use that money have been ongoing in the Legislature; Santa Fe officials aren’t rushing to divert their shares of cannabis excise tax to any place other than their general funds.

But this issue isn’t just policy, tax and business mumbo jumbo. SFR also gathered up the small cache of futuristic weed gadgets we’ve collected over the past year and gave them test runs with the hopes of understanding why people might be ditching analog smoking for the digital world of vaping.

The publication date not-so-coincidentally lines up pretty closely with April 20, or 4/20, that stoner holiday that makes some eyes roll and others glossy and red. No matter how you celebrate—and even if you don’t—we hope you highly enjoy this year’s cannabis issue.