N.M. Admin. Code § 16.8.2.22

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 17, September 10, 2024

Section 16.8.2.22 - APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CANNABIS PRODUCER LICENSE

A. An initial application or renewal for cannabis producer licensure shall include the following:

(1) Contact information for the applicant and the cannabis establishment, to include:

(a) applicant's full legal name;

(b) applicant's date of birth, if applicable;

(c) applicant's mailing address;

(d) applicant's contact telephone number;

(e) applicant's contact email address;

(f) applicant's business physical address and mailing address, if different;

(g) applicant's business legal name, including a DBA name if applicable;

(h) applicant's business web address, if applicable;

(i) applicant's business hours of operation;

(j) name and contact information for each controlling person;

(k) demographic data pursuant to the Cannabis Regulation Act; and

(2) proof the applicant or each controlling person is at least 21 years of age, which shall include identification issued by a federal or state government that includes the name, date of birth, and picture of the applicant or controlling person;

(3) proof of compliance with local laws by submitting either:

(a) a copy of a current business license issued by the local jurisdiction in which the proposed premise is located, which may include zoning approval and a fire inspection report;

(b) evidence that the local jurisdiction in which the proposed premise is located does not issue business licenses; or

(c) evidence that the local jurisdiction in which the proposed premise is located does not issue business licenses prior to the issuance of a cannabis license.

(4) proof the applicant is properly registered with the New Mexico taxation and revenue department (TRD) for payment of gross receipts tax;

(5) demonstration of a legal right to use the quantity of water that the division determines is needed for cannabis production, as evidenced by either:

(a) documentation from a water provider that the applicant has the right to use water from the provider and that the use of water from cannabis production is compliant with provider's rules, or

(b) documentation from the office of the state engineer showing that the applicant has a valid and existing water right, or a permit to develop a water right, for irrigation purposes for outdoor cultivation, or a commercial purpose for indoor cultivation at the proposed place of use of the cannabis establishment. The documentation may include any of the following:

(i) a state engineer permit or license in good standing, but not including a permit issued pursuant to Sections 72-12-1, -1.1, -1.2, or -1.3, NMSA 1978;

(ii) a subfile order or decree issued by a water rights adjudication court;

(iii) the findings of an office of the state engineer hydrographic survey; or

(iv) other documentation the office of the state engineer has deemed in writing as acceptable to the office of the state engineer under this rule.

(6) a plan to use, or certification that the applicant cannot feasibly use, energy and water reduction opportunities, including:

(a) drip irrigation and water collection;

(b) natural lighting and energy efficiency measures;

(c) renewable energy generation; and

(d) estimated water and energy use related to the applicants cultivation plan;

(7) if applicable, certification the applicant is in good standing with the New Mexico secretary of state, including all documents filed with the New Mexico secretary of state;

(8) a list of all controlling persons, a list of other current or prior licensed cannabis businesses, documentation of the applicant's or a controlling person legal name change, and criminal history screening documents as set forth in 16.8.2.9 NMAC and the Cannabis Regulation Act;

(9) a detailed description of any criminal convictions of the applicant and any controlling person, including the date of each conviction, dates of incarceration, probation or parole, if applicable, description of the offense, and statement of rehabilitation of each conviction;

(10) a detailed description of any denial, suspension, revocation, surrender, or any other form of discipline or disciplinary action by a cannabis licensing agency in another state, jurisdiction or territory against the applicant or any controlling person associated with the applicant;

(11) the initial number of mature cannabis plants, and immature cannabis plants, the applicant proposes for production and the amount of water the applicant plans to use on a monthly basis for a 12 month period;

(12) certification the applicant will adhere to production requirements pursuant to the Cannabis Regulation Act, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, or division rules, including creating and maintaining a cultivation plan, and cannabis waste procedures for cannabis or cannabis products;

(13) certification the applicant will adhere to cannabis transport requirements pursuant to the Cannabis Regulation Act, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, or division rules, including the transport of unprocessed cannabis or cannabis products to other cannabis establishments;

(14) certification the applicant will adhere to New Mexico department of agriculture (NMDA) pesticide registration, licensing, and use requirements to ensure a safe product and environment;

(15) certification the applicant will adhere to security requirements pursuant to the Cannabis Regulation Act, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, or division rules, including requirements relating to safety and security procedures, security devices to be used, placement of security devices, personal safety, and crime prevention techniques;

(16) certification the applicant will adhere to quality assurance requirements pursuant to the Cannabis Regulation Act, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, or division rules, including requirements relating to routine testing by a licensed testing laboratory, division inspection of licensed premises during normal business hours, and testing of cannabis;

(17) certification the applicant will adhere to applicable federal, state and local laws governing the protection of public health and the environment, including occupational health and safety, food safety, environmental impacts, natural resource protections, air quality, solid and hazardous waste management, and wastewater discharge;

(18) certification the applicant has never been denied a license or had a license suspended or revoked by the division or any other state cannabis licensing authority or a detailed description of any administrative orders, civil judgements, denial or suspension of a cannabis license, revocation of a cannabis license, or sanctions for unlicensed medical or commercial cannabis activity by any state licensing authority, against the applicant, controlling person, or a business entity in which the applicant or controlling person was a controlling person within the three years immediately preceding the date of the application;

(19) applicant's social and economic equity plan to encourage economic and social diversity in employment, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, and residential status of licensee, controlling persons and employees of applicant and whether the applicant, controlling persons, employees or the locations where the cannabis products are produced are located in an underserved rural community, including tribal, acequia, land grantmerced, federally designated opportunity zone, or other rural historic communities;

(20) certification the applicant has obtained a current local jurisdiction business license, or will prior to operation of the cannabis establishment, and the applicant shall adhere to local zoning ordinance;

(21) certification the applicant will maintain at all times a legible and accurate diagram and description of the location of the land or facility used for the cannabis establishment and the method(s) to be used to produce cannabis;

(22) an attestation of the following statement: Under penalty of perjury, I hereby declare that the information contained within and submitted with the application is complete, true and accurate. I understand that a misrepresentation of fact or violation of these rules may result in denial of the license application or revocation of a license issued; and

(23) payment of any required application or licensure fees as set forth in 16.8.11 NMAC. Cannabis plant fees, if applicable, shall be accessed by the division upon approval of an initial application, additional premises application or renewal application. The division must receive payment of cannabis plant fee prior to cultivation of cannabis plants or, if applicable, at the time of renewal.

B.Verification of information: The division may verify information contained in each application and accompanying documentation, including:

(1) contacting the applicant or controlling person by telephone, mail, or electronic mail;

(2) conducting an on-site visit;

(3) requiring a face-to-face or virtual meeting and the production of additional documentation; or

(4) consulting with state or local governments.

N.M. Admin. Code § 16.8.2.22

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 16, August 24, 2021, eff. 8/24/2021, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 24, December 28, 2021, eff. 12/6/2021, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 02, January 26, 2022, eff. 1/13/2022, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 06, March 22, 2022, eff. 3/22/2022, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 09, May 7, 2024, eff. 5/7/2024