Compliance and Legal Info for CANNABIS DiSPENSARIES

Age Verification and Identification Requirements

What is the legal age to purchase cannabis in Albuquerque?

Per New Mexico state law, you must be 21+ with valid government-issued photo ID to purchase recreational cannabis. Medical patients aged 18+ can register with the New Mexico Department of Health Medical Cannabis Program. We scan all IDs through a compliant verification system and retain records for seven years as required by the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Which forms of ID do you accept?

• U.S. driver’s license or state ID
• Passport or passport card
• Military identification
• Tribal ID cards
• Mexico Consular ID (Matrícula Consular)

Temporary paper IDs without photos are not accepted. International visitors must present a passport with a matching entry stamp.

Purchase Limits and Possession Laws

How much cannabis can I legally buy and possess?
New Mexico allows:

• Recreational:
  
  • 2 ounces (56g) of flower per transaction
  • 16g of concentrates (wax, shatter, etc.)
  • 800mg of edibles
• Medical:
  
  • 8 ounces (230g) of flower every 90 days
  • No concentrate limits for registered patients

All purchases are tracked in the state’s Metrc seed-to-sale system to prevent exceeding legal limits.

Can I purchase for someone else?
No. "Straw purchases" (buying for others) are a felony under the Cannabis Regulation Act. We train staff to identify suspicious behavior, including:

• Frequent same-day returns
• Requests for product recommendations inconsistent with observed needs
• Attempts to bypass purchase limits

Medical Cannabis Program Compliance

Do you accept out-of-state medical cards?
Yes, under New Mexico’s reciprocity program. Patients from Arizona, Oklahoma, and other participating states must provide:

• Valid medical cannabis card
• Government-issued ID matching the card name
• Completed temporary patient registration form

How do you protect patient privacy?
We adhere to HIPAA and state medical cannabis privacy laws by:

• Storing patient records in encrypted digital files
• Conducting annual staff training on confidentiality
• Never sharing data with third parties without court orders

Product Safety and Testing

What safety standards do your products meet?
All inventory complies with New Mexico’s cannabis testing rules:

• Pesticides: Below 0.1 ppm for 60+ banned substances
• Microbes: <10,000 CFU/g aerobic bacteria
• Heavy Metals: Lead <0.5ppm, Arsenic <1.5ppm
• Residual Solvents: Butane <5,000ppm

Full lab reports from Steep Hill NM and SD Pharm Labs are available upon request.

Are your packages child-resistant?
Yes. We use CRP (Child-Resistant Packaging) certified to 16 CFR 1700 standards, including:

• Pop-top mylar bags with zipper locks
• Screw-top containers requiring 10+ lb. pressure
• Tamper-evident seals on all edibles

Consumption Laws and Public Safety

Where can I legally use cannabis in Albuquerque?
Consumption is prohibited in:

• Public parks, sidewalks, and streets
• Federal land (including Petroglyph National Monument)
• Hotels without written owner consent
• Vehicles (even parked)

What are the DUI laws for cannabis?
New Mexico enforces a 5 ng/mL THC blood limit for drivers. We provide free Uber/Lyft codes for customers who over consume onsite.

Delivery Compliance

What areas do you deliver to legally?
Our licensed drivers serve Albuquerque city limits (Bernalillo County), avoiding:

• Tribal land boundaries
• 1,000-foot radius of schools (per state law)
• Federal buildings

Delivery hours are restricted to 9 AM–6 PM under Albuquerque municipal code.

How do you verify age for deliveries?
Drivers use handheld scanners to:

• Confirm ID validity
• Cross-reference Metrc purchase records
• Capture digital signatures

Employment and Workplace Policies

Can I fail a drug test for using legal cannabis?
Yes. New Mexico employers can enforce zero-tolerance policies for:

• Safety-sensitive positions (construction, healthcare)
• Federal contractors
• DOT-regulated roles

We provide THC detox guides and documentation for medical patients seeking workplace accommodations.

Do you drug-test employees?
Yes. Staff undergo:

• Pre-employment urine tests
• Random monthly tests
• Post-accident testing

Tax Compliance and Reporting

What taxes apply to cannabis purchases?

• Recreational: 12% excise tax + 7.875% gross receipts tax
• Medical: 4% excise tax + 7.875% GRT
  Tax funds are allocated to:
• 33% to state general fund
• 25% to behavioral health services
• 15% to cannabis research

Can I deduct cannabis purchases on taxes?
No. IRS Code 280E prohibits federal deductions for cannabis-related expenses. Consult a NM-licensed CPA for state-specific advice.

Recall and Returns Policy

What if I receive a defective product?
We follow NM’s 72-hour recall protocol:

1. Report issue via our online portal
2. Return product in original packaging
3. Receive replacement + 20% credit

Can I return unopened products?
Yes within 7 days with receipt. Opened items are non-refundable due to public health regulations.

Social Equity and Community Reinvestment

How do you support communities impacted by prohibition?
We comply with the state’s Social Equity Framework by:

• Hiring 30% of staff from ZIP codes with high historical arrest rates
• Donating 2% of profits to expungement clinics
• Offering free business licensing workshops

Do you work with legacy operators?
Yes. Our Legacy Grower Program provides:

• Compliant cultivation training
• Licensing fee assistance
• Co-branded product opportunities

Adherence to Advertising Restrictions

Where can you promote cannabis products?
We follow NM Regulation and Licensing Department rules:

• No billboards within 300 ft of schools
• Social media ads target age-gated audiences only
• Email campaigns include unsubscribe links

Can you sponsor youth sports teams?
No. State law prohibits cannabis businesses from sponsoring events with >10% minor attendance.

Law Enforcement Cooperation

Do you share surveillance footage with police?
Only with valid subpoenas. Our 24/7 camera system retains footage for 45 days as required by law.

How do you handle theft incidents?
We follow state-mandated protocols:

1. Secure premises and preserve evidence
2. File police report within 2 hours
3. Notify RLD within 24 hours

Environmental Regulations

How do you dispose of cannabis waste?
We use a licensed waste management partner to:

• Grind unsold flower with 50% non-cannabis material
• Incinerate contaminated products at 1,500°F
• Recycle 90% of packaging materials