The bill amends the Cannabis Regulation Act in New Mexico to strengthen the regulatory framework governing cannabis activities. It introduces new definitions for key terms such as "applicant," "cannabis consumption area," "cannabis courier," and "cannabis establishment," which aim to clarify the roles of various stakeholders in the cannabis industry. A significant provision requires state and national criminal history checks for all applicants seeking cannabis activity licenses, ensuring that they sign their applications. The Cannabis Control Division is tasked with establishing rules for the operation of cannabis establishments, including security, recordkeeping, and product labeling, while also promoting diversity and inclusion for communities affected by past cannabis prohibitions.

Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a "cannabis regulatory advisory committee" by September 1, 2021, to guide rule development and enhance diversity in licensing and employment. It allows the division to access criminal history records from the Department of Public Safety and the FBI, requiring all controlling persons of an applicant to undergo these checks. The bill emphasizes the confidentiality of criminal history information and outlines conditions for license denial, suspension, or revocation based on past criminal activity. Furthermore, applicants must demonstrate legal access to water resources and submit plans for energy and water reduction as part of the licensing process, thereby ensuring compliance with state and local laws.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 26-2C-2, 26-2C-3, 26-2C-3.1, 26-2C-7
CE substitute: 26-2C-2, 26-2C-3, 26-2C-3.1, 26-2C-7