NMBC warned legislators and the governor that legalizing marijuana would bring far more problems than the ‘pot’ of money from new taxes they were focused on. We hate to say ‘we told you so,’ but fact is recently numerous marijuana business operators sent a letter to governor saying the ‘illicit (illegal) marijuana market is flourishing since the drug was legalized. The letter goes on say, “Our local businesses simply cannot compete with the illicit market and the immense oversupply.”
Since NM was not the first to legalize marijuana, the consequences were well known. In opposition to legalizing marijuana, NMBC warned lawmakers and the governor that black market/illegal arrests, seizures and investigations have increased up to 1,042% in other states after marijuana was legalized. In Colorado, 64% of local jurisdictions banned medical and recreational marijuana businesses because of, or to avoid societal/black market problems. But the NM law approved by lawmakers during a ‘special session’ and quickly signed by Governor Lujan Grisham does not allow local governments to ‘opt out’ of the new law. HERE is a report NMBC provided to all legislators and the governor prior to marijuana being legalized in NM. Read more HERE.