New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) expressed frustration to a high-ranking official at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding the confiscation of legally produced marijuana in her state and the absence of Border Patrol agents. This information was revealed from a secretly recorded phone conversation that took place on an airplane.
During the conversation, Governor Grisham raised concerns about the impact of marijuana seizures on licensed growers in the state. She also mentioned the lack of Border Patrol agents in a specific region of the state’s border with Mexico. Grisham criticized the current administration’s stance on fentanyl and its emphasis on confiscating state-legalized cannabis products.
Previously, under the Trump administration, National Guard soldiers were deployed to assist in border security operations, but Governor Grisham withdrew most of them shortly after taking office in 2019.
The leaked audio recording captured Governor Grisham challenging the unnamed DHS official about the seizure of legal cannabis, emphasizing the negative effects on small-scale producers. She also mentioned receiving an unsatisfactory response from DHS Secretary Mayorkas about the situation.
The governor expressed her disappointment with the federal government’s handling of the issue and pleaded for a resolution to prevent further losses for the state-legal cannabis industry. She also cited the risk of losing businesses for small producers due to the lack of insurance coverage for such losses.
In response to the leaked audio, Governor Grisham’s spokesperson reiterated her concerns about the federal seizures of licensed marijuana in New Mexico. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson affirmed that despite state legalization, marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
Republicans in the New Mexico Legislature urged the governor to prioritize border security in the legislative agenda for an upcoming special session, while Governor Grisham maintained that border security is primarily the responsibility of the federal government.
