New Mexicans spend $1.9 million on recreational marijuana in first 20 hours
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico - As of 8 p.m. on Friday, New Mexicans had spent nearly $1.9 million on legal marijuana for recreational use, according to the state. Medical patients spent nearly $760,000 in that same period of time.
In Las Cruces, the bulk of the early sales came from R. Greenleaf, a dispensary that opened at midnight to hundreds of people in line. A spokeswoman confirmed at least 600 people waited in line overnight.
"I'm ready," said Jeremy Sandoval, a 26-year-old las Cruces resident who might have been the first in the state to legally buy marijuana for recreational use. "It is awesome. I feel really special. Really happy in this moment."
As ABC-7 reported, R. Greenleaf opened up at midnight because Las Cruces city leaders did not set operating hours for dispensaries.
While a midnight dispensary run is not on my calendar, I’m so excited for this retailer to make Las Cruces the first city in #NewMexico to sell recreational cannabis! That’s what happens when your city officials think of everything except operating hours 😬🤣 #nmpol #LegalizeIt https://t.co/IN2Bl7lBnL
— Johana (@johana_nayelly) March 31, 2022
WOW! This is the moment that Jeremy Sandoval might have become the first person to legally buy recreational marijuana in New Mexico! We are still working to learn whether any other dispensary in the state opened at midnight. pic.twitter.com/nN1L961GTc
— Kate Bieri KVIA ABC-7 (@KateBieri) April 1, 2022
