New Mexico legalizes cannabis

New Mexico's Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed both cannabis reform bills into law sent to his office last week. Both pieces of legislation legalize cannabis for adult use and automatically expunge cannabis-related criminal records for crimes that would no longer be illegal under the new law.

✅ SIGNED: Special Session HB 2, legalizing adult-use cannabis in New Mexico!

This legislation is a major, major step forward for our state. Legalized adult-use cannabis is going to change the way we think about New Mexico for the better - our workforce, our economy, our future. pic.twitter.com/rosl1AJm6t

- Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) April 12, 2021

Under the new rules, In New Mexico, adults aged 21 or over are allowed to possess up to two ounces (56g) of cannabis and 16g of extract, and can grow up to 6 cannabis plants at home. Retail cannabis stores are expected to open by April 2022. Cannabis sales in the state will initially be taxed at 12%, but this rate will eventually rise to 18%, and cannabis businesses will face taxes of between 5% and 9%. .

More than 150,000 New Mexico residents could also have their criminal records expunged.

New Mexico is the 15th U.S. state to legalize cannabis, and one of only four to do so since the beginning of the year. New Jersey, New York and the Virginie.