Throughout history, people have used cannabis for different reasons like medicine, religion, fun, and culture. However, it’s a bit of a debate because in many places, it’s considered illegal and might have some health risks, social problems, and addictive qualities.
In the United States, the rules about cannabis differ from state to state. Some places still say no to it, while others have made it less of a big deal or even completely okay.
As of 2024, 18 states in the US let adults use cannabis for fun. People there can have it, use it, and buy it from certain stores. New Mexico is one of these states, and they said yes to recreational cannabis in June 2021, making them the 17th state to do so.
Since then, a city called Sunland Park in New Mexico has seen a huge increase in people wanting weed. It seems like they’re using more than any other place in the state.
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About Sunland Park’s Weed Consuming Rate
Sunland Park is a small city in southern New Mexico with around 17,000 residents. It sits near the border with Texas and Mexico. In April 2022, Sunland Park became home to one of the state’s biggest recreational cannabis stores, called Sunland Park Cannabis.
This dispensary offers various cannabis products like flowers, edibles, concentrates, and vapes. Customers need to be at least 21 years old and have a valid ID. Not only do local residents visit, but people from nearby Texas, where recreational cannabis is still illegal, also come by.
According to the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Sunland Park Cannabis made nearly $4 million in sales of cannabis products in November 2023. It ranked as the second-highest selling dispensary in the state, just behind Albuquerque, a much larger city.
In the same month, Sunland Park Cannabis reported having over 100,000 customers, more than any other dispensary in the state. The owner, Miguel Lopez, expressed surprise at the business’s success and gratitude for providing a legal way for people to enjoy cannabis.
Lopez employs over 50 people, mainly from the local community, and pays taxes to the state and city. He plans to expand the business and open more locations.
While Sunland Park Cannabis is the first, there are at least two other dispensaries in the city, and more are expected to open. The city of Sunland Park sees the cannabis industry as a source of revenue and economic development. It allocates some of the cannabis tax money to fund public safety, education, and infrastructure projects.
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Other US States With Higher Weed Smoking Rate
Sunland Park isn’t the only city in New Mexico where people are using more marijuana than before. A report from Yahoo Finance says that in 2023, New Mexico was the fourth-highest state in the US for how much cannabis people used per person. Only Vermont, Oregon, and Colorado had more.
The report guessed that in 2023, people in New Mexico used about 25.5 metric tons of cannabis, or around 11.6 grams per person.
It also predicted that the cannabis market in New Mexico would go up by 40% in 2024, hitting $375 million in sales. The report said this growth is because more residents and tourists want it, and the prices are low while the quality is high.
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To Conclude
More people in Sunland Park, New Mexico are using cannabis since the big recreational cannabis store opened in April 2022. This is because the store is close to Texas, offers a variety of products, and has competitive prices compared to other states.
Sunland Park Cannabis’s success has led to more dispensaries opening in the city, and the local government sees the cannabis industry as a way to make money through taxes and boost the economy. This trend is expected to keep growing in 2024, making New Mexico one of the fastest-growing cannabis markets in the United States.
