Federal Border Checkpoints Trip Up Cannabis Micro Producers
You can kiss your dreams goodbye if stopped
For someone new getting into the cannabis playing field, particularly as a micro producer, you are most likely a mom-and-pop operation. You have navigated the difficult application process, got your license to legally grow cannabis for sale, begged, borrowed and used all your savings to have the investment money needed to grow cannabis on the family farm down in the Land of Enchantment South. You’ve crossed your fingers, eyes and toes that the business would fly and finally you have a crop to sell. Then it all goes up in smoke.
“It’s Legal” state laws (and meaningful social equity regulations meant to ensure rural New Mexicans aren’t priced out of the new cannabis economy) mean nothing if you try to ship your product north and have to go through a federal border patrol checkpoint. It belongs to the Feds then, and you can kiss your dreams goodbye if stopped.
The Land of Enchantment North away from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection interior checkpoints is the place to grow weed in New Mexico as checkpoints can be located up to 100 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The checkpoints effectively limit the ability of residents near the border to tap into the growing profitable industry up north. Unless you’re beyond the reach of the checkpoints, the state’s legalization equity goals and legal possession laws are meaningless if the Feds catch you with any amount of cannabis as you head north, even with a medical card.
In the south, communities of color and those most affected by the country’s war on drugs live in a part of the state that isn’t allowed the freedom the rest of the state has. The Border checkpoints in the state stop vehicles headed north on I-25 and west on I-10. Anyone stopped faces the potential of a $1,000 civil penalty, and exposure to local criminal prosecution.
With recreational cannabis sales starting in April, New Mexico is getting ready to “Rock and Roll with Mary Jane.” The Rolling Paper. spoke with several producers to get their feedback on the issue.
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