As of April 1, adults in New Mexico can buy recreational marijuana, making it the latest Mountain West state to legalize cannabis as federal lawmakers consider broader decriminalization.
Under the new law, anyone 21 and older can buy up to 2 ounces of recreational marijuana, and on Friday many New Mexicans lined up to shop at some of the state鈥檚 roughly 250 licensed retailers.
At Carver Family Farm's dispensary in Albuquerque, TJ Emerick bought a strain of flower called Apple Fritter. He says he's happy to finally be spending his money locally.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been excited 鈥� been ready for this," Emerick said. "Don鈥檛 have to drive to Colorado, especially with the gas prices right now.鈥�
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham the industry to generate over $300 million in sales, and $50 million in revenue, in the first year. The AP that dispensaries in eastern New Mexico are ready to serve their neighbors in Texas, where marijuana remains illegal despite demand that could drive a there.
Across the American West, most states now have legalized medical and recreational cannabis. Only medical cannabis is legal in Utah, and neither is legal in Idaho and Wyoming.
Editor's note: Megan Kamerick contributed to this story.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, 91暗网 in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the .
