The bill amends the Cannabis Regulation Act in New Mexico to strengthen the regulatory framework for cannabis activities. It introduces requirements for state and national criminal history checks for applicants seeking cannabis activity licenses, ensuring that they must sign their applications. New definitions are added to clarify terms related to cannabis activities, such as "applicant," "cannabis consumption area," "cannabis courier," and "cannabis establishment." The Cannabis Control Division is tasked with establishing rules and standards that align with industry practices, focusing on security, product labeling, and advertising, while promoting diversity and inclusion, particularly for communities affected by past cannabis prohibitions.

Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a "cannabis regulatory advisory committee" by September 1, 2021, which will include various stakeholders to guide rule development and promote diversity in licensing and employment. Significant changes to the licensing process are introduced, requiring applicants to demonstrate legal access to water resources and submit plans for energy and water reduction. The bill emphasizes the importance of criminal history background checks for controlling persons of applicants and mandates the division to monitor the cannabis market, ensuring that licensing decisions are made fairly and transparently while considering the applicant's qualifications and relevant legal issues.

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