The New Mexico Hemp Program allows business owners to obtain permits that allow them to lawfully conduct business operations in our state. The program has detailed requirements that are designed to protect New Mexicans from the potential of harmful environmental effects from hemp. An experienced Hemp Program attorney can help business owners obtain their permits as quickly as possible, develop compliant business practices, and ensure adherence to changes in New Mexico hemp laws and regulations.

What is the New Mexico Hemp Program?

The New Mexico Environment Department issues permits for hemp warehouses, as well as the facilities that extract, manufacture, and process hemp in our state. (Each activity requires a different permit, so some hemp business owners will need more than one.) The Department also issues guidelines for the transport and labeling of these products. In order to conduct these hemp business activities in New Mexico, a business owner must:

• Submit a successful application
• Obtain the proper permit(s) for all business activities that will be conducted
• Conduct all business activities in compliance with the rules issued by the Environment Department.

Testing of finished hemp products must be submitted to the Department as part of the application process. The Department's website has a list of analytical laboratories that have been approved to complete these tests. The website also lists facilities that have been approved to source hemp from other states to be transported into New Mexico, as well as the New Mexico businesses that have been approved to conduct hemp business operations under the Hemp Program.

New Mexico Hemp Program and Business Owners

So what do hemp business owners need to know about the program? First, the application process is detailed, and each document must be submitted in strict accordance with state regulations. This also means that each action item (such as testing) must also be completed in strict compliance with state law. Business owners who are not familiar with the application process can spend unnecessary time and money trying to submit a successful application to the state.

Second, the right permits must be obtained for each business activity that will be conducted. If you intend to both manufacture and process hemp, your business will need two separate permits, and these must be maintained and renewed separately. Your business will also need to stay compliant with current rules - which can change - in order to maintain your permits. This means you will need regular updates on both what changes have been enacted and what your business needs to do to stay compliant with changing laws.

Third, business owners need to understand that, even if their business does not require a permit at this time, laws could change that will require a business permit in the future. For example, products that contain hemp but are not intended for human absorption, ingestion, or smokable products do not currently require a permit under the Hemp Program. But in the future, business owners might need a permit to sell necklaces, bracelets, bags, and other wearable products that contain hemp. A business that is not prepared to obtain such a permit would be unable to conduct any business until a permit was issued.

How Our Lawyers Can Help You Navigate Through the New Mexico Hemp Program

These are daunting tasks for any new business owner. The good news is that a New Mexico hemp attorney can help you conduct your business as efficiently as possible. The Albuquerque hemp lawyers at Legal Solutions of New Mexico have experience with the New Mexico hemp program. We know how to prepare your application properly so that your business will not be delayed by unnecessary errors in the application process. Added application fees and costs plus lost revenue can quickly add up or any business owner. A small investment of attorneys fees is well worth the cost to avoid these unnecessary losses.

Once your business is up and running, our hemp lawyers can help you develop the business practices that will help your business stay compliant with the Hemp Program. These practices must be periodically reviewed to ensure that your employees are adhering to your guidelines, and they will need to be updated as hemp laws and regulations change. By establishing a working relationship with a hemp attorney at the start of business operations, owners will have access to the legal advice that will help them stay compliant with the Hemp Program and avoid potential sources of liability.

Finally, any business that deals in hemp should be prepared for future regulation. A hemp lawyer can help business owners determine whether a permit is required if changes in the law might require a permit in the future, and how to adjust to these regulations to mitigate the potential for any lost business. The experienced Albuquerque attorneys at Legal Solutions of New Mexico are highly experienced with the Hemp Program. We help business owners obtain permits, develop business practices, avoid liability, and update their practices to stay compliant with all changes in the law. Call (505) 445-4444 to schedule your consultation.