NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is getting involved in the issue of licensed cannabis distributors having their marijuana products seized by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials at checkpoints in New Mexico.
The governor recently brought her concerns to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, according to the governor’s Director of Communications, Michael Coleman. “During the conversation, the governor noted that industry operators in border states where cannabis is legal appear to be at greater risk of scrutiny and arrest by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents than those in non-border states that have legalized cannabis,” an email statement from Coleman read in part.
According to the New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, they’ve seen federal agents stop 12 licensed New Mexico cannabis businesses and seize more than $300,000 worth of product. The seizures are being made under federal law, which declares marijuana illegal. Federal law supersedes state law in this case, as New Mexico state law says that recreational cannabis and medical marijuana are legal.
“Secretary Mayorkas assured the governor that federal policies with respect to legalized cannabis have not changed. Regardless, the governor and her administration are working on a strategy to protect New Mexico’s cannabis industry,” Coleman stated.
Director Todd Stevens of the Cannabis Control Division in New Mexico has been working with the governor on the issue. According to Coleman, Stevens has spoken to officials in other legal cannabis states with border patrol checkpoints, and none reported having this same issue. “At this point, New Mexico seems to be the only state affected by these seizures and we’re working to understand why,” Coleman told KRQE News 13.
Stevens told KRQE News 13 that licensed cannabis companies that have had their products seized should contact the CCD.
KRQE News 13 reached out to Homeland Security for a comment. We did not receive a comment at the time this story was published.
