Albuquerque Cannabis: Latest Weed Headlines and Happenings
FreshStor is headed to Albuquerque May 19-20, 2023! We’ll be in CannaCon Booth 221 at the Albuquerque Convention Center both days — stop by and say hi! CannaCon is an epic event for anybody interested in the cannabis industry, so if you’re a business owner, investor, soon-to-be business owner or simply a cannabis enjoyer, don’t miss CannaCon! We rounded up the latest weed headlines and happenings so you can “hit the expo floor running” in Albuquerque! And we got some recs on cannabis dispensaries in Albuquerque. Make sure you order cannabis delivery Albuquerque if you’re new in town. See you soon!
Albuquerque cannabis sales (and sales throughout the state)
We now have the official numbers for the first year of legalized recreational sales. Throughout the state, New Mexico dispensaries sold more than $300 million, according to Associated Press reports. Out of more than 10 million transactions, nearly 7 million were for recreational purchases alone. From April 1, 2022, to April 1, 2023, $27 million in cannabis excise taxes were collected. Although booming cannabis retailers near the Texas border get the most media attention, cannabis dispensaries in Albuquerque especially are seeing record sales. Those numbers include March 2023 amounts of $32.4 million through 725,572 transactions, per data from the Cannabis Control Division.
Changing cannabis legislation
Legislation is also evolving regularly in the Land of Enchantment. Recently, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham approved a bill that facilitated automatic expungements for prior cannabis convictions. This is an improvement to the 2021 automatic expungements and resentencing provisions, which needed clarified details for courts to proceed.
“The passage of HB 314 reflects that New Mexico’s priorities post-legalization are not just about collecting taxes, but also fulfilling the state’s commitment to ameliorate the harm caused by the prohibition of cannabis,” Gracie Johnson, policy director at the Last Prisoner Project (LPP), which worked on the legislation.
New avenues for entering the Albuquerque cannabis industry
Cannabis Albuquerque has exclusively seen a university program established to prepare upcoming industry professionals for their careers. “It’s growing at a very rapid rate here in New Mexico and the business, the leadership and the compliance skills are also in high demand because of that growing industry,” explained University of New Mexico (UNM) Continuing Education Marketing Manager Laura Jimenez.
UNM has partnered with the Green Flower company to create the six-month curriculum, offered entirely online, for the Cannabis Compliance and Risk Management Certificate Program. Lessons on agriculture business, distribution, retail operations, accounting and marketing are included in the curriculum.
Lowdown on cannabis dispensaries in Albuquerque
An innovative move within the NM market is a partnership between Dynamic Jack Cannabis Co. and an Albuquerque favorite: Rude Boy Cookies. Together, they produce a line of cannabis-infused chocolate chip and sugar cookies that are available at various cannabis dispensaries in Albuquerque such as La Tiendita de Motita, Vana Society and Dreamz Dispensaries.
This process has been relatively smooth, according to Dynamic Jack founder Ali Jubelirer, who had complimentary words for the New Mexico cannabis market: “It was easy, straightforward, and not overly burdensome. The platform worked well too. This is one of the most low-lift applications I have seen — so the barrier to entry by virtue of a tough process is not the problem (as it can be in other states). For the most part, we also received prompt answers to questions we would ask the CCD over email.”
Another regional favorite comes from Chef Dimitri Eleftheriou, who launchedHeidi’s Edibles, an Albuquerque-based THC food brand combining high-quality local extracts and organic ingredients. “First and foremost, we’re in the food business. And we want to have things taste good,” said Eleftheriou of his new business venture.
Eleftheriou says Heidi’s Edibles is “really high quality without any nasty preservatives. We believe in real food, real ingredients. No bullshit, that’s what we’re about. I think that everyone took really well to it. More than people I thought. Which is wonderful. I think that there’s a lot of people getting into the industry, which is exciting. We’re just happy to be part of it and part of the community. We want to shine in our own way and help others shine that we’ll be working with. Because without the community, without each other, we don’t have much.”
Pairing activity and Albuquerque cannabis
Albuquerque does pairings well too. One example is Leaf and Lotus Yoga, an experience that combines cannabis and purposeful movement. Founder Rachel Varney runs the studio and is a certified Ganja Yoga instructor. Here, local dispensaries rotate supply, and everyone smokes together. Cannabis and yoga classes, retreats and other events are forming regularly.
For those in Albuquerque and those planning to visit the area for CannaCon, consider local cannabis delivery Albuquerque for purchasing. Highly rated nearby suggestions include La Flor Dispensary and CannaBuena, who both boast a wide selection and knowledgeable budtenders. Just ensure your dwelling allows for consumption with these tips! If you’re traveling to ABQ from a state that doesn’t allow cannabis delivery, Albuquerque is the place to experience this luxury!
Come see FreshStor at CannaCon, the biggest Albuquerque cannabis event this spring!
FreshStor offers premier storage options for individuals (try the home grow kits) and businesses, who can get sweet discounts when they order in bulk. Our products have won multiple cannabis awards, including recognition by WeedTube and High Times and in competitions like the Colombia Copa Del Sol Cannabis Cup, Massachusetts High Times Cannabis Cup and Arizona High Times Cannabis Cup. What storage method is best for your needs? Whether you need flower storage or extract storage, we’ll help you keep your buds fresh.
