It’s been a busy year-and-a-half for the cannabis industry, especially in New Mexico.Next year, business owners predict “you’re probably going to see five or $600 million a year sales range,” Priscotty Cannabis Delivery CEO Scott Prisco said.More than $350 million have been generated since it’s recreational use has been legalized. Now, the Department of Health & Human Services is recommending to the Drug Enforcement Agency to re-categorize marijuana from a Schedule I drug — which is in the same group as meth and heroine — to a Schedule III — like anabolic steroids.Not everyone is sold on the idea. “I would like to see this go through a more methodical, evidence-based approach especially with medicinal uses of cannabis,” Republican State Senator Gregg Schmedes said.As a surgeon and ranking member of Health & Public Affairs, he’s worried about research involving pediatric cannabis exposure to children and teenagers.On the other side, we have CEO of Smokin’ Dispensaries Rick Granoff who said the medical benefits should be highlighted as well. “I’m on the board of Bradley Children’s Psychiatric Hospital,” Granoff said. “It’s one of the oldest psychiatric hospitals in the world and I can tell you…the marijuana research to which you refer I think is suspect and unfair.”Granoff operates over 60 dispensaries in 14 different states. For those who struggle with anxiety, depression, or even epilepsy, Granoff said cannabis helps individuals like these.If changed, businesses like Prisco’s and Granoff’s would be able to keep more of the income rather than paying federal taxes to the state. It won’t happen overnight, but if the rescheduling is done those like Prisco believe people from both sides can come together and learn how to not take advantage of the plant.”This will help us understand the plant better as a whole allowing us to really make adjustments as a society and integrate it,” Prisco said.The reclassification of marijuana would not make changes to the substance being illegal at the federal level. Experts say it would be a step towards decriminalization.
It’s been a busy year-and-a-half for the cannabis industry, especially in New Mexico.
Next year, business owners predict “you’re probably going to see five or $600 million a year sales range,” Priscotty Cannabis Delivery CEO Scott Prisco said.
More than $350 million have been generated since it’s recreational use has been legalized. Now, the Department of Health & Human Services is recommending to the Drug Enforcement Agency to re-categorize marijuana from a Schedule I drug — which is in the same group as meth and heroine — to a Schedule III — like anabolic steroids.
Not everyone is sold on the idea.
“I would like to see this go through a more methodical, evidence-based approach especially with medicinal uses of cannabis,” Republican State Senator Gregg Schmedes said.
As a surgeon and ranking member of Health & Public Affairs, he’s worried about research involving pediatric cannabis exposure to children and teenagers.
On the other side, we have CEO of Smokin’ Dispensaries Rick Granoff who said the medical benefits should be highlighted as well.
“I’m on the board of Bradley Children’s Psychiatric Hospital,” Granoff said. “It’s one of the oldest psychiatric hospitals in the world and I can tell you…the marijuana research to which you refer I think is suspect and unfair.”
Granoff operates over 60 dispensaries in 14 different states. For those who struggle with anxiety, depression, or even epilepsy, Granoff said cannabis helps individuals like these.
If changed, businesses like Prisco’s and Granoff’s would be able to keep more of the income rather than paying federal taxes to the state.
It won’t happen overnight, but if the rescheduling is done those like Prisco believe people from both sides can come together and learn how to not take advantage of the plant.
“This will help us understand the plant better as a whole allowing us to really make adjustments as a society and integrate it,” Prisco said.
The reclassification of marijuana would not make changes to the substance being illegal at the federal level. Experts say it would be a step towards decriminalization.