State Environment Dept launches cannabis bureau

patdavisnm

July 31, 2022

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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.

Tagged in :

Cannabis Control Division, Food safety, New Mexico cannabis license, New Mexico environment department, OSHA, Regulation and Licensing

patdavisnm

Pat Davis is the owner of The Corrales Comment and co-owner of The Paper.

One response to “State Environment Dept launches cannabis bureau”

State publishes new penalties for cannabis licensee violations. Is your company ready? | Weeds.

August 1, 2022

The Cannabis Control Division(CCD) has recently implemented penalties for applicants and licensees who violate the Cannabis Regulation Act, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, and division rules. Under new rules, the division may impose a civil monetary penalty ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per violation and/or potential suspension or revocation of a license. Final disciplinary actions will be imposed depending on the severity of the violation, as well as documented patterns of license violations by the licensee.

The new penalties are:
For the first documented violation within a twelve (12) month period, the CCD can propose a fine of $1,000 – $2,000 per violation, as well as potentially take action against the license itself, suspend or revoke.
For the second documented violation within a twelve (12) month period, the CCD can propose a fine of $2,000 – $3,000 per violation, as well as potentially take action against the license itself, suspend or revoke.
For three or more documented offenses, the CCD can propose up to a $10,000 fine per violation as well as potentially suspend or revoke a license.
It should be noted that per rule, any offense involving the sale or distribution of cannabis to a minor can be fined up to $10,000 regardless of prior history related to the violation, as well as have their license potentially suspended or revoked.

In addition to documented patterns of violations, the CCD will also consider other factors prior to issuing penalties such as the licensees’ willingness to address and remediate the violation(s), how cooperative a licensee is during an investigation of violation(s), as well as the violations potential threat to public health, safety and welfare. These factors will play a key role when the regulatory agency is determining to enhance or lower penalties to be imposed by the division.

We at Weeds. understand that navigating laws and rules in order to remain compliant can be daunting and a bit overwhelming, but that’s why we are here! The team at Weeds. is dedicated to working with new and existing businesses to address potential violations before they become an issue and cost a company literally thousands of dollars and be put into a position to potentially lose their license all together. If you want to be proactive before state auditors arrive at your licensed premise, contact us for a preventive site visit, where our experts will work with you and your operators to ensure your business is meeting compliant standards. And if you find yourself in a sticky situation with regulators and need assistance working through license violations with corrective action plans, we are here to help with that as well!

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