Southeast New Mexico gears up for recreational pot

ROSWELL, N.M.— What’s been a long legalization process is finally coming to a close as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham prepares to sign the Cannabis Regulation Act into law.

“Let’s get growin’, let’s get going," said Logan McIlroy, director of Bryan’s Green Care.

The growing mood of readiness for recreational marijuana is definitely noticeable for local shop Bryan’s Green Care.

“Excitement, this is a great day this is monumental for our state, I mean our state couldn’t have this at a better time,” he said.

After years of waiting, McIlroy said he feels like New Mexico is finally ready for this economic change.

With the oil and gas industry building in southeast New Mexico, some people worry that legalizing recreational cannabis will replace oil and gas in these parts. But Logan said both sectors can be side-by-side without a problem.

“The benefits of having both of those economic driving forces together is absolutely going to make this state a much more palpable state for a lot of people maybe even draw people into this state,” he said.

Roswell Police said in a statement that they will be stretched thin with more calls for service in crime, mental illness, and impairment. They also added that they hope the legislature will provide more funding to social services for allowing this "degradation into New Mexico communities."

With the legalization comes regulations for shops to follow, and Logan said they will start prepping for the April 2022 rollout in the coming months.