| Dear Las Crucens, I certainly never thought I’d be sending so many emails about Cannabis in Las Cruces (and for the record, I am a supporter of medical cannabis); however, the City Council is considering another issue related to cannabis at their next meeting on Monday Oct 3. See below for more info and how to get involved if this is important to you. ALLOWING CANNABIS DISPENSARIES NEAR NEIGHBORHOODS At their meeting on October 3, the Las Cruces City Council will be considering whether to change the zoning code to remove the 300-foot buffer requirement between cannabis retailers/microbusinesses and single-family zoning districts. You can download the proposed Ordinance here: ???Ordinance No. 3012 – Pdf The cannabis retailers and the City are asserting that it is too difficult to find places to operate that are 300 feet away from residential areas and other cannabis businesses. The proposed amendments would also remove the requirement for cannabis dispensaries to be 300 feet away from each other. This Ordinance would remove the wording shown in yellow from the City’s requirements for Cannabis dispensaries: Sec. 38-33G Cannabis Retailer (C-1, C-2, C-3). Cannabis establishments shall comply with all State of New Mexico regulatory and licensing requirements. Cannabis retailers shall be located 300 feet from a school or daycare, excepting commercial schools and schools of higher learning serving those 18 years and older. Further, no cannabis retailer in C-1, C-2 or C-3 zoning districts shall be located closer than 300 feet to a single-family residential zone and shall not be closer than 300 feet to another cannabis retailer unless a special use permit is obtained per Sec. 33-54. On-site consumption of cannabis is limited to indoors and is entirely prohibited in the C-1 zoning district. ___________________ To me, this is yet another example of the City placing economic benefits over the health and well-being of the community and children especially. Combined with the fact that the City is also considering allowing outdoor usage of cannabis at licensed facilities, it is not a far step to imagine a cannabis retailer being right next to a family’s house with young children who would potentially end up being exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke. Additionally, in the Appendix to the Ordinance (shown at the bottom of this email), you can see that there are already 75+ cannabis businesses registered with the City, so there is certainly no shortage of these businesses in the City. TWO WAYS TO TAKE ACTION If you do not want cannabis dispensaries to be allowed near neighborhoods, the City Council needs to hear your voice on this issue. Previous cannabis issues have seen a massive dominance of support from the cannabis industry in Las Cruces, and there have been relatively few others speaking in opposition. PLEASE EMAIL/CALL CITY COUNCIL: Make sure to send individual emails instead of one group email if you want a response. • Mayor – Ken Miyagishima – [email protected] – (575)-541-2067• District 1 – Kasandra Gandara – [email protected] – (575)-541-2066• District 2 – Tessa Abeyta – [email protected] – (575) 541-2068• District 3 – Becki Graham – [email protected] – (575)-541-2070• District 4 – Johana Bencomo – [email protected] – (575) 541-2071• District 5 – Becky Corran – [email protected] – (575)-541-2076• District 6 – Yvonne Flores – [email protected] – (575)-541-2069• City Clerk – Christine Rivera – [email protected] – (575) 541-2115 ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT: The meeting is on Monday October 3 at 1pm at City Hall (700 N Main St, Las Cruces, NM 88001). We need as many people as possible to attend and give comments on this issue. __________________________ Please take action if these issues are important to you. We have to be involved if we want to turn things around. Standing with you in solidarity, Sarah Smith Free People of the Southwest – local action New Mexico Freedoms Alliance – statewide action |
