Santa Fe – With the start of a new fiscal year, the New Mexico Environment Department announced the launch of the Climate Change Bureau and the Cannabis and Hemp Bureau.


The Climate Change Bureau, the first such Bureau in state history, will lead the department’s climate change initiatives, including legislative, regulatory, and compliance initiatives. Read more about this initiative here.


The Cannabis and Hemp Bureau will oversee the department’s efforts to ensure that cannabis and hemp-based food products are produced in accordance with food safety regulations. The new bureau will
collaborate closely with the Regulation and Licensing Department’s Cannabis Control Division. The Cannabis and Hemp Bureau is funded by a $449,000 recurring appropriation from the legislature which was $1.9M less than the Governor’s budget request for the Environment Department. Currently, the Environment Department regulates 33 hemp facilities and has processed 160 self-certifications for cannabis edible facilities across the state.

“Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Lujan Grisham, we are truly coming into a brighter future for our state, with more staff than ever before fully dedicated to tackling the climate crisis and a new team to support the state’s already multi-million-dollar cannabis industry,” said Environment Department Cabinet Secretary James Kenney. “Of course, New Mexicans can also expect that we will continue our work to serve communities around the state to protect our environment and public health.”


“Under the leadership of Gov. Lujan Grisham, New Mexicans are seeing new economic opportunities for entrepreneurs and communities across the state with its newest cannabis industry,” said Superintendent Linda Trujillo. “The Regulation and Licensing Department looks forward to The Environment Department’s mission is to protect and restore the
environment and to foster a healthy and prosperous New Mexico for
present and future generations partnering with the Cannabis and Hemp Bureau to ensure public health and safety for this robust and
growing industry.”


Individuals interested in applying for positions in the Climate Change Bureau or the Cannabis and Hemp Bureau can apply online at https://careers.share.state.nm.us and select “Department of Environment” in the Agency menu.

In The Weeds.

Commentary from the Weeds. team.
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of cannabis facilities, workers and products they make. For cannabis operators, new funding and organization around cannabis enforcement at NMED means an increased focus on OSHA healthy workplace rules and food safety provisions for manufacturers, producers/cultivators and retailers.

Weeds. compliance services support licensees with mock facility inspections, staff training and policy compliance programs to help operators understand and implement the more than 300 pages of OSHA and health and safety rules for commercial cannabis. Learn more at our Compliance page.