Connect with us

Business

New Mexico recreational cannabis supply challenges ease as production ramps up

Published

on

More recreational cannabis cultivation production is coming online in New Mexico, and new retailers are establishing the connections they need to secure supply.

At the same time, some warn that production could soon outpace demand and the coming fall “Croptober” outdoor harvest could flood the market and depress prices.

Ben Lewinger, executive director of the New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, a 140-member, statewide organization based in Albuquerque, said the market has shifted dramatically in the past four to six weeks.

The wholesale price per pound is evidence of that, Lewinger said, where six to eight weeks ago a wholesale pound of flower was in the $4,000 range.

“Now it’s in the $2,200-$2,500 range, because there’s more availability and people have connections to support a vibrant wholesale market,” he said. “I think that’s only going to get better.”

Most recent state sales data shows that the market is gaining momentum, with sales for July at $40.3 million, the strongest since the adult-use program launched in April.

Despite a relatively small population of 2.1 million, New Mexico’s recreational marijuana market is expected to achieve annual sales of up to $125 million in 2022, growing to as much as $400 million by 2025, according to projections from the 2022 MJBiz Factbook.

The state calls the cannabis companies that carried over from the medical market “legacy producers.”

Those legacy producers helped to ease the transition from medical to recreational and keep the supply relatively steady, Lewinger said.

Another factor is the state increasing the allowed plant count from 1,750 marijuana plants per grow license to 20,000 mature plants per permit as of January.

A key dynamic is at play in the border areas – in particular, the south and east – where New Mexico borders Texas, which has only a very limited medical marijuana market.

“In the southern part of the state, places like Sunland Park and Las Cruces, I definitely see lots of Texas licenses plates at those dispensaries,” Lewinger said.

“Those communities near the border are working hard to leverage that.”

Ample supply

When New Mexico’s adult-use market started in April, some cannabis retailers opened up shop with little to no products to sell.

But supply is starting to catch up to demand and retailers are asking for better deals on wholesale cannabis, said Tony Martinez, co-owner of Lava Leaf, a marijuana cultivation operation in Aztec, New Mexico.

Wholesale pounds of flower are selling for about $2,750, down from about $3,500 in April, according to Martinez.

“There is definitely ample supply of flower,” Martinez said, adding that he went on a wholesale run last week and saw full shelves everywhere.

“The minimum variety I saw was probably 15 strains,” he said.

That’s without the fall harvest that’s on its way in October.

Martinez has been growing licensed cannabis in the state for seven years. Lava Leaf is growing about 2,500 plants, both outdoor and in a climate-controlled greenhouse.

As far as access, Martinez said that “the market doesn’t need more stores. It’s like you can’t throw a rock without hitting a dispensary.”

Retailers are making more connections with flower producers and diversifying their supply chain.

In the Farmington area, in the northwest part of New Mexico, a gram of marijuana is selling for about $13-$15 at a retail store, according to Martinez.

That relatively high price means some people are still driving across the border up to Durango, Colorado, for cheaper cannabis.

Ultimately, the legacy producers have a leg up on the marijuana companies that are trying to enter the market, according to Martinez.

The new companies are building out facilities, establishing connections, “everything from scratch, whereas the legacies just kind of got to roll into this program with a massive head start,” he added.

But that’s not a reason to get overconfident, according to Martinez.

“A lot of the legacies are going to burn themselves out,” he said. “Because they severely underestimated the competition.

“They thought, ‘We’re so far ahead, we can’t lose.’”

Demand met

Despite the initial concerns about long lines at retail stores and not enough supply when adult-use sales began, that wasn’t true for everyone.

So says Robert Jackson, executive director of Seven Point Farms, a legacy operator with a cultivation facility in Socorro and retail locations in Albuquerque, Cedar Crest and Socorro.

“The existing licenses were able to scale enough to meet demand,” he said. “But I would say just barely.”

Product variety and the availability of different strains did suffer some because of lack of supply, Jackson said, but that’s gotten better.

As for the wholesale market, Jackson said he’s seeing pounds of flower selling in the $2,500-$3,400 range, depending on quality. Flower is selling for $7-$20 a gram at retail stores in his area.

The average customer spends about $60 per transaction in his store, which is up about $12 per transaction since April.

Croptober looms

According to one of the major players in the New Mexico market, Duke Rodriquez, CEO and president of Ultra Health, based in Bernalillo, marijuana consumers are feeling the pinch of macro-level economic factors such as rising inflation.

That’s leading to a “deterioration” of the market, as customers are not as willing to spend as much at the retail level, he said.

“We’re seeing that deterioration actually accelerate,” Rodriquez said. “That should scare people.”

Even with the increased plant count, New Mexico’s cannabis growers are still not fully ramped up, according to Rodriquez.

“The reality is it takes time and money and effort to deploy those plants,” he said. “This plant cap was ridiculous, and it got us into a deep hole.”

Although there’s no question of access for customers in the state – as there are plenty of retailers, according to Rodriquez – that relatively high price per gram, at least $10, usually more, for flower, is preventing the market from really taking off.

That steep retail price is also helping to fuel a robust illegal market that can offer flower at much lower prices, Rodriquez said.

“We’ve seen a real enhancement of the illicit market,” he added. “They’re bringing in quality products.”

The legal market will be tested again this October, according to Rodriquez, when the fall outdoor harvest hits and prices drop. He anticipates he’ll be able to buy outdoor-grown flower for as low as $80 a pound.

“That reality hasn’t set in,” he said. “Cannabis is not a very kind lover.

“We’re going to break a lot of hearts in the fall.”

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-recreational-cannabis-supply-challenges-ease-as-production-ramps-up/

Agriculture & Life Sciences

Canada’s Cannabis Industry Urges Government to Support Growing Export Market

Published

on

By

BuzzBuzz Cannabis Business News — 24 November 2025

Canada’s cannabis sector is calling on federal and provincial governments to recognize its fast-growing export potential and extend the same support other regulated industries receive. Industry leaders warn that Canada is losing its early global advantage due to slow regulatory processes, lack of trade promotion, and limited access to government-backed financing.

Canada’s medical-cannabis exporters now generate more than half a billion dollars annually and ship products to major markets including Germany, the UK, Australia, and Poland. Despite this, cannabis remains largely absent from Canada’s official trade and export strategies.

Industry Calls for Streamlined Export System

Paul McCarthy, President of the Cannabis Council of Canada, says the country has everything required to dominate the global medical cannabis trade—except government alignment.

“Our requests are simple,” McCarthy said. “Expedite Health Canada’s export-permit process, integrate cannabis into federal export programs like Global Affairs Canada trade missions and CanExport, and ensure provinces include cannabis in their export strategies.”

He stressed the need for mutual recognition agreements with importing countries to eliminate redundant testing and documentation. Access to Export Development Canada (EDC) and Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) services also remains off-limits to cannabis exporters, placing them at a steep disadvantage.

“This industry does not just need permission to operate,” McCarthy added. “It needs to be treated like every other legitimate contributor to Canada’s trade objectives.”

Competitors Are Moving Faster

McCarthy warns that while Canada pioneered medical cannabis standards, other countries are rapidly advancing with more flexible and export-friendly systems.

“Faster approvals, lower compliance costs, and active government-backed strategies are helping other nations catch up,” he said. “Canada’s regulatory friction is already costing us global market share.”

Export permits currently must be issued for each shipment—a process that can take weeks—and Canadian testing standards often differ from international requirements, forcing companies to repeat expensive compliance checks.

High Tide CEO: Canada Needs a National Export Strategy

Raj Grover, CEO of High Tide Inc., says Canada risks surrendering its leadership if policymakers remain inactive.

“Canada developed the world’s most advanced cannabis regulatory system and contributed $76.5 billion to GDP since legalization,” Grover said. “But without a National Cannabis Export Strategy, we will lose ground to Australia, Israel, Portugal, and other emerging competitors.”

He noted that Canada’s industry table created by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has not met in more than a year—an opportunity wasted.

Grover urged the federal government to introduce domestic GMP certification and potency standards to streamline international market access. “Canadian producers must currently get GMP approval country by country. It’s duplicative and costly. Canada should be setting global benchmarks, not chasing them.”

Germany: A Key Market for Canadian Firms

High Tide recently expanded into Europe with its majority acquisition of Germany’s Remexian Pharma GmbH, giving the company a direct import and distribution channel in Europe’s largest medical-cannabis market.

“Our German strategy is already structured for success,” Grover said. “Through Remexian, we can supply premium medical cannabis at the lowest possible price, helping meet Germany’s quality and cost demands.”

Grover also warned that U.S. companies are already purchasing Canadian firms to stage their own international expansion—another sign that Canada’s leadership position is slipping.

Government Response Remains Limited

In response to industry concerns, a Global Affairs Canada spokesperson said the Trade Commissioner Service “continues to support exporters of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes that have obtained Health Canada permits.”

However, industry leaders argue that this support is minimal and does not include key tools such as trade missions, export credits, or bilateral agreements that other sectors routinely receive.

A Closing Window of Opportunity

With medical-cannabis exports already exceeding $500 million annually, industry executives say Canada must act quickly to preserve its competitive edge.

As McCarthy warns, without coordinated government support, Canada risks losing high-value pharmaceutical manufacturing, research investments, and thousands of skilled jobs.

And as Grover’s expansion into Germany demonstrates, the industry is moving forward—but whether Canada moves with it may determine if the country remains a global leader or becomes a pioneer that let others capitalize on its breakthroughs.

Continue Reading

Business

A Tipping Point for Cannabis: President Trump Champions CBD & Cannabis Science on Truth Social

Published

on

By

When the President of the United States shares a video about the life changing potential of hemp derived CBD on his personal social media platform, it is more than news, it is a cultural shift.

For decades our government lied to us about cannabis. It demonized the plant, waged war on its users, and filled prisons while allowing pharmaceutical companies to flood the nation with addictive and deadly drugs. For over a century we have been fighting uphill, not just for legalization, but for truth, for science, and for the right to heal ourselves naturally.

Now in 2025, the most powerful political figure on Earth is using his own voice and platform to talk about the endocannabinoid system and the science backed benefits of CBD. That is monumental. It is validation for everyone who has fought, been arrested, been silenced, and been dismissed for telling this truth. The President’s video post is already being described as a pivotal moment in cannabis history, and President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social is trending across platforms as advocates celebrate the breakthrough.


The Science Behind the Endocannabinoid System

The video begins by introducing something most people, including many doctors, still know little about, the endocannabinoid system. Discovered in the 1990s, the ECS is a network of receptors and signaling molecules that works as the body’s master regulator, coordinating communication between major systems like the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems.

The roots of this discovery go back much further. CBD was first isolated in 1940 by American chemist Roger Adams, but it was Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli organic chemist, who fully elucidated the chemical structure of CBD and identified its stereochemistry in the 1960s. His pioneering work not only opened the door to modern cannabinoid science but also earned him the title “Godfather of Cannabis Research.” It was this foundation that led to the identification of the endocannabinoid system itself decades later, revealing how cannabinoids interact with our physiology on a fundamental level.

The ECS is now widely recognized as a vital part of human biology, with extensive research supported by the National Institutes of Health. When functioning properly, the ECS acts like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every section plays in harmony. As we age, the system weakens. That imbalance is linked to inflammation, chronic pain, cognitive decline, sleep problems, and many other conditions associated with aging.

Mainstream medicine often addresses these issues with pharmaceutical band aids, dangerous and addictive drugs that treat symptoms rather than root causes. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise help, but they only partially support the ECS and do so slowly over time.


Hemp Derived CBD: A Game Changer for Aging

Here is where the science gets exciting. As the video explains, the ECS can be restored much more quickly with hemp derived CBD. Strengthening this system naturally helps the body regain balance, reducing pain, improving sleep, lowering stress, slowing disease progression, and even extending healthy lifespan.

It is not theoretical. One in five seniors is already using CBD to manage pain, arthritis, cancer symptoms, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, and more. Despite decades of research and acknowledgment from institutions like the National Institutes of Health, most physicians receive no training on the ECS. There are still no FDA standards for CBD products on the market. If that were the case for any other class of medicine, it would be considered malpractice.

The World Health Organization has confirmed CBD’s excellent safety profile and non addictive nature in its critical review report. The result is that millions of older Americans are suffering unnecessarily when a safe and natural solution exists.

Hemp derived CBD is a powerful first step in restoring balance to the endocannabinoid system, but it is only part of the picture. Research shows that full spectrum cannabis extracts, which include a broader range of cannabinoids and terpenes, can work even more effectively. Complete concentrated cannabis oil, containing the full spectrum of natural endocannabinoids, may deliver the most profound results for certain patients. Expanding access to these therapies will be essential if we want to unlock the full healing potential of this plant.


The Economic and Social Impact

The video cites a powerful figure. A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis estimates that fully integrating cannabis into the healthcare system could save the United States nearly 64 billion dollars annually. These savings reflect reduced pharmaceutical dependency, fewer hospitalizations, improved chronic disease outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for aging Americans. You can read more about PwC’s research on healthcare innovation here.

It is a financial argument, but it is also a moral one. Why should our elders endure pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline when nature has given us tools to help them live longer, happier, and healthier lives?


A Call to Action: Finish What the Farm Bill Started

The message concludes by crediting the 2018 Farm Bill, championed by President Trump, for legalizing hemp and laying the groundwork for today’s CBD market. The Farm Bill was just the first step.

Now the call is for bold next moves.

  • Educate doctors about the endocannabinoid system
  • Include CBD under Medicare coverage
  • Provide clear federal standards for CBD quality and dosing

These steps would constitute the most significant senior health reform in modern history, one that would transform aging and cement a powerful legacy for any administration that makes it happen.


What This Means for Future Cannabis Medicine

For those of us who have been in the cannabis community for decades, this is not just another news story. It is a signal that our movement is winning. A conversation that was once criminalized and censored is now being amplified by the President of the United States on his own platform.

It means the science is undeniable. It means the truth can no longer be buried. It means the wall of prohibition is cracking, not just legally, but culturally, scientifically, and politically.

It also means that everything we have been fighting for at 420 Magazine since 1993, education, access, healing, and justice, is finally moving full steam ahead. The President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social moment is proof that science and policy are finally converging.

Continue Reading

Business

New Mexico cannabis operator fined, loses license for alleged BioTrack fraud

Published

on

New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.

The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.

Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.

The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.

The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.

Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.

After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.

In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.

The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.

At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.

Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.

Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.

The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:

Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 420 Reports Marijuana News & Information Website | Reefer News | Cannabis News