New Mexico judge repeals hemp regulations that revoked licenses without notice

A New Mexico district court has invalidated the state’s hemp production rules that allowed regulators to revoke or suspend licenses without notice and imposed strict testing requirements.

Santa Fe District Court Judge Bryan Biedscheid said the New Mexico Department of Health’s rules were invalid because the agency failed to consult with the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board as required by state law.

The ruling came in response legal action from New Mexico cannabis company Ultra Health, cannabis news site The Candid Chronicle first reported.

Duke Rodriguez, the company’s president, said the judge’s ruling shows “the department may not attempt to promulgate any rules it wishes without fully consulting stakeholders and providing substantial evidence for such changes.”

He said the state must issue rules that keeps prices low for medical cannabis patients.