Special Agent-in-Charge Kyle Williamson (SAC) expressed concern over the legalization of recreational cannabis in New Mexico about a month ago. He discussed that there would be increased teen usage for cannabis among other concerns. Now, the same DEA El Paso Division is expressing the same concerns towards New Mexico’s cannabis legalization

Concerns

“The men and women of the DEA are concerned because New Mexico is already No. 5 in the nation for youth marijuana use. We believe the legalization of recreational marijuana will increase the availability and accessibility to the youth of New Mexico and the parts of Texas that border the state, including El Paso,”said Carlos Briano, the Public Information Officer for the DEA El Paso Division. 

With such a high number of underage users of cannabis already, legalization is expected to make this number worse. But studies have shown that not all of the concerns expressed will come true. In fact, some of the statistics people show concern over show a downward trend instead of up. 

Legalization

New Mexico became one of three states so far this year to legalize recreational cannabis use through legislative measures. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) has been calling for legalization of recreational cannabis since the beginning of the year. She hoped it would be a way to bring more revenue to the state that had been struggling severely during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

When the bill died in the Senate without discussion, Governor Grisham called for a special session to have lawmakers specifically craft a recreational cannabis legalization bill for adults 21 and over. It passed in the beginning of April.

Now the DEA is concerned for youth usage numbers because of this legalization. The DEA is suspecting a high number of youth in New Mexico as well as along the Texas border to begin using recreational cannabis because of the ease of access and availability. Whether or not these concerns come true remains unknown until sales start at the beginning of next year, 2022. Until then, only speculation remains. 

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