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State regulators are accusing the new Cookies dispensary in Albuquerque of committing a number of regulatory violations, including allowing a minor to consume cannabis on site during its grand opening event last year.
The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) has released a notice of contemplative action, saying it is considering disciplining Cookies for allowing a person under 21 to consume marijuana on-site, allowing people to consume cannabis publicly on its property during a grand opening event held in November, publishing images of public consumption at the event on social media, allowing alcohol consumption on its premises and displaying marijuana products in its parking lot.
It’s unclear if Cookies will be requesting a hearing concerning the notice.
“The CCD takes allegations of underage and/or public consumption very seriously and will continue to enforce the laws under the Cannabis Regulation Act to the full extent of its authority,” said the CCD in a statement to The Paper.
Schumer Plans Next Legalization Bill
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is looking for supporters to sign on to the cannabis legalization bill that he plans to reintroduce this month.
Schumer, along with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), recently sent a letter to members of Congress, setting an April 19 deadline for original co-sponsors to sign on to the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA).
“The question today is not whether cannabis should be legal—many states have already moved ahead,” wrote the lawmakers. “The question now is whether cannabis should be subject to the same high regulatory standards, based on preserving public health and safety, that apply to alcohol and tobacco.”
Schumer and his colleagues said regulating marijuana is a matter of public safety.
“Federal regulation is long overdue to ensure that cannabis products are as safe as possible, to prevent access by children and adults younger than 21, and to ensure that state and local jurisdictions have the resources they need to combat impaired driving,” they wrote.
The CAOA would decriminalize marijuana and create a system to regulate and tax the drug.
Lawmakers Call For Updated DOJ Guidance
A group of lawmakers is calling on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to issue guidance on protecting state-legal marijuana operations from federal prosecution.
During the Obama administration, then-Deputy Attorney General James Cole issued a memorandum directing federal prosecutors to stop prosecuting businesses selling marijuana in states that had legalized the drug.
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo six years ago, during the Trump administration. Since then, prosecutors have continued the hands-off approach, but haven’t been required to do so.
In a letter to Garland last month, Congressional Cannabis Caucus co-chairs Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) called for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to update its policy.
“We urge you to correct this oversight and reissue a memo making clear DOJ’s limited resources will not be spent prosecuting those acting in accordance with state or Tribal law,” wrote the lawmakers.
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