New Mexico's Black Market Cannabis Problem

While state leaders have celebrated New Mexico's "billion dollar" cannabis industry, more than two years into recreational sales, there's growing concern about the regulatory apparatus tasked with monitoring thousands of licensed cannabis facilities. A recent Larry Barker investigation exposed how New Mexico's Cannabis Control Division has only inspected roughly half of the state's more than 3,000 licensed facilities. Barker's investigation also revealed how some of those operations are openly violating the state's cannabis rules and regulations.

This week on New Mexico News Insiders, Investigative Reporter Larry Barker sits down with Chris McKee and Gabrielle Burkhart to discuss the results of his cannabis industry investigation. Leader of the largest licensed cannabis operator in the state, Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez also shares his perspective on the impact the lack of regulation is having on New Mexico and the state's cannabis industry.

Click here to watch Larry Barker's full investigation, titled, 'The New Mexico Cannabis Cowboys: Modern-day Desperados.'

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel.

We're also now broadcasting the podcast on TV! Tune in to an abbreviated version of New Mexico News Insiders on Fox New Mexico every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m.