SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (NMRLD) is requesting $61.6 million in total funding for Fiscal Year 2026 to recruit extra enforcement personnel for the Cannabis Control Division (CCD). NMRLD’s FY26 budget request would provide an additional $562,200 over FY25. That request is contingent on the legislature approving expanded law enforcement […]
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (NMRLD) is requesting $61.6 million in total funding for Fiscal Year 2026 to recruit extra enforcement personnel for the Cannabis Control Division (CCD).
NMRLD’s FY26 budget request would provide an additional $562,200 over FY25. That request is contingent on the legislature approving expanded law enforcement authority for the department.
“The Cannabis Control Division needs more resources to better serve its licensees and curb the illicit market,” Regulation and Licensing Department Superintendent Clay Bailey stated in a news release. “Only with the legislature’s support can the CCD expand its compliance staff and create law enforcement positions that will provide us the authority to take action against unlicensed criminal activity.”
NMRLD’s major FY26 requests include:
$1,970,500 from the General Fund to recruit 10 additional Compliance Officers for the CCD
$560,000 special request from the General Fund to cover vehicles for 10 additional CCD compliance officer positions
$745,000 special request from the General Fund for equipment to handle orders of seizure, destruction, or embargo of non-compliant cannabis products
Requests contingent on legislation granting NMRLD law enforcement authority include:
$1,108,000 expansion request from the Cannabis Regulatory Fund that would give the department seven special agents to carry out law enforcement duties to help combat criminal activity in the cannabis industry
$465,000 special request from the General Fund for law enforcement special agent vehicles
NMRLD’s request comes after a year-long investigation by KRQE’s Larry Barker found that there are so many cannabis-related violations that regulators at New Mexico’s Cannabis Control Division are powerless to curb the illicit activity.
CCD Director Todd Stevens told Barker that the agency can only issue fines but has no authority to collect them. Out of 3,000 licensed cannabis facilities across New Mexico, Stevens admitted, the Cannabis Control Division has only inspected about half of them.
“The work we do here at NMRLD is critical to New Mexico’s economy and public safety,” Bailey said in the news release. “We remain committed to ensuring businesses and professionals are operating safely and legally, and meeting the standards set by their industries.”