On Thursday June 17th, at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom, Albuquerque City Council will be holding a Special City Council meeting to discuss the 2020 Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) Annual Update, which includes amendments to address recreational cannabis. The IDO is the city’s regulatory document governing land development and use of property.
The IDO was updated in 2019 to address possible future cannabis businesses during a time when the New Mexico Legislature was having advanced discussion about legalizing a market for cannabis, following the lead of other States, like Colorado. While the IDO took steps in 2019 in anticipation of possible, future legalization, that day is now here. The New Mexico Legislature enacted House Bill 2 (The Cannabis Regulation Act), at a special session of the state legislature in early 2021. The City Council is now considering updates to the IDO in response to that Act.
While the State Legislature established a licensing and industry structure through the Cannabis Regulation Act, it is the job of local government to determine where it would be most appropriate for those licenses and that industry to operate within the city, and under what limitations to best preserve the character of special places and ensure compatibility with surrounding areas and community goals.
The City Council has access to many tools through zoning regulations to accomplish community goals relating to cannabis uses. The provisions the City Council will be considering bridge the gap between a paper license issued by the State and the physical establishments that will operate in the city. The proposed regulations relate to the density of facilities (i.e., how many facilities are allowed within proximity of one another), distance separation requirements from perceived sensitive land uses such as schools and daycares, limitations on signage and operating hours, as well as how zoning regulations can ensure equitable and fair access to economic opportunities for all communities in the city, among others.
Details on the meeting, access to the amendments, and an online comment form are available here.
Additional IDO 2020 Annual Update materials for review: More details about the 2020 IDO Annual Update: |
