Cannabis Association of New Mexico forms, seeking stronger voice for industry

A new cannabis organization has launched in New Mexico, pledging to champion business concerns in Santa Fe and to lead the development of educational initiatives.

The organization, called the Cannabis Association of New Mexico, officially launched on Tuesday. The organization comes more than three years since the state legalized adult-use cannabis sales, a development that spurred a crop of new businesses across the state and has brought in more than $1.3 billion in sales.

A group of highly familiar cannabis industry officials is joining the board, including Barry Dungan, president of the cannabis testing laboratory Rio Grande Analytics, and Matt Kennicott, a cannabis grower based in Socorro.

Other board members include executives and owners from companies such as Lava Leaf Organics — the first company awarded a cultivation license by the state’s Cannabis Control Division — First Crop, Higher Cultures and Pharmers Quality.

“We saw a need for stronger advocacy, so we stepped up to fill a gap that continues to grow,” said Kennicott, who is serving as the Cannabis Association of New Mexico’s executive director.

The organization says it will focus on cannabis excise tax reform — such as freezing and reducing rates — identifying gaps in testing, pushing for pre-license inspections, water rules and working with the state on rules and training for the new cannabis law enforcement bureau. It will also focus on educational programs and networking events.

Kennicott said the organization also sees saturation as an issue, “especially with regards to retail and high plant counts on the cultivation side.”

“The market is making some corrections, especially recently, when we’ve seen close to 200 licenses not being renewed or the business closing its doors,” Kennicott said. “This is an area where the policy committee and board will be having conversations to look for a solution.”

At least one other such group exists in the state — the New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, which has, in years past, thrown its weight behind certain legislative priorities related to the industry. But the chamber’s executive director, Ben Lewinger, stepped down earlier this year, and its website and social media channels have not been as active as in the past.

The Cannabis Association of New Mexico hopes to fill that gap.

Amanda Metzler, a policy specialist with Higher Cultures and a board member of the new organization, called industry advocacy “the bedrock of a strong, enduring market.”

“When we unite to champion causes that matter to our businesses, we create a ripple effect that uplifts the entire state, not just a select few,” Metzler said.