Corrales debates marijuana cultivation

New law would bar commercial growth

Towering walls, armed security, a pungent smell and young “zoned-out” kids.

Those were some of the concerns raised by Corrales residents last week on whether to allow the commercial growth of marijuana in the village. The village is considering a proposed ordinance that would ban the cultivation, processing and sale of “cannabis and cannabisderived products” within the village — a measure spurred by a planned medical marijuana farm that would be adjacent to residential areas.

If passed, the ordinance would not affect people with medical marijuana cards or a “personal production” license from the state or currently existing medical marijuana farms within Corrales, according to a explanatory memo to the Village Council.

The proposed farm is awaiting building permits and is not yet under construction.

Steve Gutierrez, a resident who rents properties next to the proposed farm at 7648 Corrales Rd., submitted a petition with 135 signatures against its construction.

“I think that’s important for us to take advantage of, to decide what the industry should look like in our village,” he said during a Village Council meeting last week. “In the future, if it does become beneficial to the village to consider this type of thing, it’s probably easier to open up to this activity rather than trying to limit the activity when already there is a strong presence.”

Most residents who spoke at last week’s meeting raised similar concerns about commercial growing operations changing the “face of Corrales.”

But some, including Dirk Gibson, spoke against the ordinance.

“I wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for medical cannabis,” said Gibson, a University of New Mexico professor and medical marijuana patient. “Medical pot is no joke. This is not ‘Cheech and Chong go to medical school’ and prescribe goodies for their friends.”

Gibson tried to allay the fears of his fellow Corraleños, emphasizing that medical marijuana has nothing to do with general legalization and is a constrained service with established procedures and medical certification by multiple doctors.

The ordinance is scheduled for a full vote at the council’s next meeting on Aug. 8.