An emergency rule that went into effect Jan. 13 increased the number of plants that New Mexico’s licensed cannabis producers could grow, but the rule did not apply to microbusiness licensees.
The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division’s (CCD) emergency rule allows the cannabis producers to double their plant count from 10,000 to 20,000 mature plants. The limit for microbusinesses, however, must be increased legislatively since it is set in statute, according to the Santa Fe Reporter.
RELATED: New Mexico Opens Licensing Process for Integrated Microbusinesses
Microbusinesses are authorized to grow up to 200 plants under the Cannabis Regulation Act that passed last year to legalize adult-use cannabis.
Senate Bill 100, new legislation sponsored by State Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), would increase this production limit to 1,000 plants, according to the Santa Fe Reporter.
“Equity and fairness are foundational principles of New Mexico’s vision for the state’s cannabis industry,” CCD Director Kristen Thomson said in a public statement. “We will work with legislators and the governor to ensure those values are upheld and that micro producers see increased plant count limits as soon as possible.”
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has added the legislation to the agenda for this year’s legislative session, which began Jan. 20.
