Applicants sought for cannabis panel

The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing department is seeking applicants for a new committee to make recommendations on regulating recreational cannabis, according to a news release.

The Cannabis Regulatory Advisory Committee, which was established by the newly approved Cannabis Regulation Act, will include:

■ The chief public defender or an office designee.

■ A district attorney appointed by the state district attorney association.

■ A police chief appointed by the state association of chiefs of police.

■ A county sheriff appointed by the executive director of the state association of counties.

■ One member for each of the following groups or professional qualifications, appointed by the regulation department’s superintendent: a cannabis policy advocacy organization; a labor organization; a state or local agency with relevant expertise; an Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo with relevant expertise; expertise in public health; expertise in regulating commercial activity for adultuse intoxicating substance; expertise and experience in cannabis laboratory science; expertise in small business development; expertise in water resources; expertise in other relevant areas; previous experience as a cannabis retailer, cannabis producer or cannabis manufacturer and who is a nonvoting member.

Committee members “cannot hold any ownership interest or investment in a licensed person,” the release said.

Application information is available at www.rld.state. nm.us. The deadline to apply is May 3.

New Mexico lawmakers approved the cannabis legalization bill last month, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the measure into law this month.