Blunts: Clovis Police Seize Dispensary’s Pot

The Clovis Police Department says it has seized cannabis products from a dispensary that allegedly was manufacturing without a proper license.

Authorities say the state’s Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD) contacted police to report that a dispensary was selling illicit cannabis products. According to KFDA in Texas, when police investigated the business, they allegedly found that the operators were manufacturing products inside the dispensary without a license. After obtaining a search warrant, officers were able to find a handwritten ledger detailing illicit sales.

Officers seized around 19.5 pounds of flower, 4.4 pounds of edibles and a pound of THC oil. Charges are pending.

Pesticide Testing Finds High Levels

Santa Fe Reporter tested some cannabis strains sold at New Mexico dispensaries and found that a number of the samples contained levels of pesticides that would have failed state testing requirements had they been in place already.

The RLD has codified rules requiring cannabis producers to test their products for certain pesticides. But those rules were not in effect when producers began growing cannabis for the adult-use market.

In April, reporters collected 17 samples from 9 local dispensaries and had them tested for pesticide levels at Scepter Lab. The results found that at least six of the tested samples contained levels of pesticides that were higher than the state currently allows. However, since those state limits were not on the books when producers were growing the cannabis, none of the producers were violating state regulations at the time.

The state currently lists 15 pesticides with limits under the cannabis rules but only one has been approved for cannabis production. Regulators say the list was compiled using pesticides found in cannabis products.

ABQ Considers Public Pot Bans

Albuquerque city councilors are considering two bills that address the public use of cannabis.

One bill, introduced by City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, would ban the public use of cannabis and would punish violators with a civil penalty. According to KRQE Fiebelkorn told the reporters that the bill would not criminalize public cannabis use.

The second bill, sponsored by councilors Trudy Jones and Louie Sanchez, is now in committee and would ban public pot use but does not specify the penalties for breaking the law.

The state’s cannabis law does not allow public cannabis use outside of designated consumption areas. The law punishes smoking cannabis publicly with a $50 fine. The Albuquerque City Council has voted to allow cannabis consumption areas in the city, but none are currently in operation. New Mexico’s first consumption lounge opened in Las Cruces in April.