Belen, NM | Summer Ludwig – On April 1st, the retail sale of recreational marijuana will be legalized in New Mexico. As Democrats, our State Party platform includes the support of recreational cannabis along two lines, as a part of Criminal Justice reform and as an expansion to Agriculture.

For too long, communities of color have been unfairly impacted by the failed “war on drugs” That is why we work to convince our federal government to remove marijuana from the Schedule I controlled substances list and to legalize cannabis. We also support the decriminalization and legalization of recreational cannabis in New Mexico as well as the expungement of the criminal records of folks who were convicted of non-violent, personal cannabis use and possession.

Our farmers are the lifeblood of rural New Mexico, and we understand that. By supporting the legal recreational cannabis and industrial hemp industry we are allowing them to diversify into a crop that is hardy, very renewable, and in high demand. That will bring a positive economic impact not only to the farmers but to New Mexico as a whole.

Furthermore, we see that our small towns and rural communities need the economic boost that recreational cannabis retailers can bring. Covid has been a difficult and depressing influence on our local economies, and we have seen too many businesses shutter their doors. That is not anyone’s fault, it is the reality of a global pandemic. We can now use recreational cannabis to our advantage and should do so.

And yet, there are some who balk at sharing space along our city streets with cannabis retailers. They are actively working to keep these honest businesspeople from opening the storefronts for which they have fought to get every permit, meet every rule, and jumped through every hoop.

The Democratic Party of Valencia County wants to make it clear that we support legalized medicinal and recreational cannabis as well as the entrepreneurs who are going to contribute to our communities and local economy through their legal retail and growing businesses.

We assert that our community members, friends, family, neighbors, and even ourselves, who will be the clientele of these establishments, will not somehow bring down the property values, both intrinsic and real, of our Arts or Historic Districts.

Cannabis consumers are folks from every generation, socioeconomic class, educational background, and employment status. While all of us may not be “well-heeled”, we are certainly knowledgeable about how and where we want to spend our money and we live in a country where we are afforded that inalienable right.
We love our communities and want to see them thrive and grow. Supporting local businesses makes economic sense. Supporting legal cannabis makes moral sense, and it is something that Democrats have endorsed and promoted for a long time.