Las Cruces sets rules for local cannabis businesses
LAS CRUCES — Las Cruces city councilors passed an ordinance Sept. 6 to decide where cannabis businesses will be allowed to set up shop around town. The result is a set of zoning rules weaving cannabis into the city’s existing business, agricultural and industrial areas — with some specific conditions, the Las Cruces Sun News reports.
The ordinance was passed on a 6-1 vote. Mayor Ken Miyagishima, who has broadly opposed the legalization of adultuse cannabis, voted no. The mayor also voted no on each individual amendment tweaking rules, such as buffer distances, definitions and allowance of consumption.
Some councilors, who advocated for a less restrictive zoning ordinance, still praised the city’s final regulations, which are set to be less restrictive than some other places across the state.
“I think this is one of the most competitive environments we’re going to create for this industry,” said District 3 Councilor Gabe Vasquez. “To create jobs and hopefully to have New Mexicans
owning a piece of this industry.”
In line with the state’s Cannabis Regulation Act, New Mexico municipalities are allowed local control over where they permit cannabis retail, production and research to be within their jurisdictions. Towns and cities can’t completely opt out, however, as in some other states that have legalized cannabis for adult use.
Stage renaming to honor NM restaurateur tabled
LAS CRUCES — The Las Cruces City Council tabled the renaming of a downtown stage to honor the late Roberto Estrada at its Sept. 7 meeting, the Las Cruces Sun News reports.
It appears the council resolution, which would have renamed the stage at the south end of the Plaza de Las Cruces the “Roberto Estrada Memorial Stage,” was erroneously written, according to Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.
“What this original resolution was really meant to do was just to see if the council would support naming the stage after Roberto, not actually to come up with the name,” the mayor told councilors. “We could today, if you’d like, but that was the intent of the resolution.”
Ultimately, councilors voted unanimously to table the resolution indefinitely until the proposed name is finalized. Councilors advocated consulting with Estrada’s family or possibly having a public naming contest.
Estrada, who died Aug. 18, was a Las Cruces icon, philanthropist, and founder of Roberto’s Restaurant and Roberto’s Mexican Food. He was also a Guinness World Record holder for the world’s largest enchilada from 2000-10.
His giant enchiladas were the main events at The Whole Enchilada Fiesta in Las Cruces each year. The three-day fiesta was held between 1980 and 2014, and is credited with putting Las Cruces on the map.
No date is set for the item to come before the council again, but the mayor said before the vote that Estrada’s family was expected to be consulted on the proposed name.
“Mr. Estrada was quite an icon,” District 1 Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Kasandra Gandara, said. “He was such a giving soul. I know he gave to many of my children’s baseball and softball teams … I think this would be a beautiful way to honor his service to our community.”