Blunts: NM Rec Sales Exceed $300 Million

In the first year of adult-use cannabis sales, New Mexico retailers sold nearly $301 million worth of marijuana.

According to a press release from the governor’s office, there are currently 633 registered cannabis retailers, 351 producers, 415 micro producers and 507 manufacturers across New Mexico. $27 million in excise taxes has been collected by the state from cannabis sales since the adult-use market opened its doors April 1, 2022.

More than $19 million in adult-use cannabis was sold in Sunland Park, a small town on the border of Texas.

“In just one year, hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity has been generated in communities across the state, the number of businesses continues to increase, and thousands of New Mexicans are employed by this new industry,” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “I’m excited to see what the future holds as we continue to develop an innovative and safe adult-use cannabis industry.”

Recreational sales in March reached a record high of $32.4 million.

Medical cannabis sales totaled $187 million since last March.

Germany To Scale Back Legalization

Germany’s coalition government says it plans to scale back its plans to legalize cannabis so that it stays within EU guidelines.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told reporters that the proposal for cannabis legalization had been revised to allow cannabis sales in limited areas for four years, where data about public health and safety can be collected before rolling out a more robust system.

The proposal has been sent to the EU for approval. But Germany is going forward with regulations that will allow citizens to cultivate their own cannabis plants at home—something which the EU will not have to approve.

Although the plans for personal cultivation have not been revealed to the public, insiders reportedly say that citizens will be allowed to cultivate up to 30 plants and will be able to form cannabis clubs, where the drug can be distributed among members.

One in 10 Veterans Used Pot

A new study published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse found that around ten percent of veterans reported using cannabis in the last year.

Researchers at the University of North Texas and the University of Illinois analyzed data from over 16,000 veterans over the years 2013 to 2019 and found that one in 10 reported using cannabis either medically or recreationally. Respondents were more likely to say that their use was strictly medical if they were over the age of 65.

“Our findings, taken in context with current federal policy, point toward a need for enhanced care coordination among veterans who may benefit from marijuana, but are unable to access it through the VA,” wrote the study’s authors.