Growing Forward: Cannabis and New Mexico Podcast
A podcast exploring the cannabis industry in New Mexico. Hosted by Andy Lyman, reporter at New Mexico Political Report, and Megan Kamerick, correspondent at New Mexico PBS, on-air host at KUNM radio and former business reporter.
Let's Talk Cannabis in New Mexico: Special Episode
This week, we want to share some of the great work from our colleagues over at KUNM Radio, where co-host Megan Kamerick also works as an on-air host. She helmed this week's "Let's Talk New Mexico" call-in show, which focused entirely on the push for cannabis legalization during the 2021 legislative session. Co-host Andy Lyman from the New Mexico Political Report joined her as a guest to give important context on the bills introduced so far, and the history of the state's medical cannabis program. They were also joined by Representative Javier Martinez and Senator Cliff Pirtle, along with Shannon Jaramillo and Ben Lewinger from the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce. We wanted to share this with you, as many of the conversations we've had so far in this project are playing a role in the legislative drafted by lawmakers and the debates to come!
Episode Music:
Christian Bjoerklund - "Hallon"
Poddington Bear - "Good Times"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Neon Drip"
Kevin MacLeod - "Back Vibes Clean"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Greylock"
Growing Forward Logo Created By:
Katherine Conley
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"Growing Forward" is a collaboration between New Mexico Political Report and New Mexico PBS.
Cannabis Education Efforts
If lawmakers approve the legalization of recreational cannabis in this year's legislative session, the issue of education and training for industry workers and medical professionals will be a top priority. This week on "Growing Forward" we dive back into this important issue. Hosts Andy Lyman (New Mexico Political Report) and Megan Kamerick (NMPBS & KUNM) talk with Shannon Jaramillo, cannabis educator and founder of Seed Crest. Jaramillo has worked with Northern New Mexico College to set up an accredited cannabis education program. Also joining them is Matthew Fogel, a registered nurse and author of "The Green Elephant: The Healthcare Provider's Essential Guide to Understanding and Addressing Medical Cannabis and CBD."
Note: This week, a pair of bills related to the legalization of recreational cannabis were officially filed in the New Mexico Legislature. You can read much more about the bills and what they would do, in Andy's latest article for the NM Political Report.
Episode Music:
Christian Bjoerklund - "Hallon"
Poddington Bear - "Good Times"
Growing Forward Logo Created By:
Katherine Conley
New Mexico Senate Majority Leader Senator Wirth on 2021 Legislative Session & Cannabis Legalization
We kick off season 2 of "Growing Forward" where we left off with season 1: the 2021 Legislative Session. The Legislature convened on Tuesday, January 19th to kick off the 60-day session, which will be unlike any of us we have ever experienced before. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers will do their work mostly remotely and the public is not allowed into the Roundhouse at all this year. There is still a lot of uncertainty about just how the peoples' work will get done over the next two months, but one thing we know is that legalizing recreational cannabis will be debated and discussed. We wanted to get a better idea of how supporters plan to attack the issue this session, so hosts Andy Lyman and Megan Kamerick sat down on zoom with Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth (D). If you want to see the interview, you can also watch on Youtube. And, you can read more about some of the legislation, as we know it right now, in Andy's latest report for the New Mexico Political Report.
Episode Music:
Christian Bjoerklund - "Hallon"
Poddington Bear - "Good Times"
Growing Forward Logo Created By: Katherine Conley
Cannabis Risks and Concerns - Special Episode
In this special bonus episode of "Growing Forward," we investigate some of the concerns that still exist around cannabis use and the potential legalization of recreational use in New Mexico. Dr. Brant Hager, a Psychiatrist at UNM, reached out to us recently to point out some of those risks and concerns, in relation to both recreational and medicinal use of cannabis. He spoke with hosts Andy Lyman and Megan Kamerick about what exactly those concerns are and what lawmakers still need to be considering when debating a legalization bill next year. (Note: Dr. Hager is speaking from his own perspective and his opinions are in no way representative of UNM as a whole).
Episode Music:
Christian Bjoerklund - "Hallon"
Poddington Bear - "Good Times"
Holiday Leftovers
This week, we conclude Season 1 with a good 'ole batch of holiday leftovers. We covered a lot in this first season, but there are still plenty of issues left to discuss when it comes to New Mexico's existing medical cannabis program and the potential for a recreational-use market if lawmakers approve legalization in 2021. Hosts Andy Lyman and Megan Kamerick discuss everything from revenue projections, to banking challenges for cannabis-related businesses and much more!
Episode Music:
Blue Dot Sessions - "Lupi"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Pastel De Nata"
Chad Couch - "Wilsons Snipe"
Christian Bjoerklund - "Hallon"
Poddington Bear - "Good Times"
Field Trip
Cannabis and Indigenous Communities
A missing piece of most cannabis conversations in New Mexico, whether it has to do with medical or the potential for legalization of recreational- use, is how Indigenous Communities are impacted. It's a complicated scenario, especially when you consider the 23 Tribes in our state are all sovereign nations. This week on "Growing Forward" we dive into those sovereignty issues, and how Indigenous communities perceive the future of cannabis in their communities.
Additional Reading - We talk a lot in this episode about a hemp-growing operation in Northwest New Mexico. As the episode points our, there are a lot of concerns about how that operation is being handled and operated. A lot has happened in this story since we taped out interview with Navajo Times Reporter Arlyssa Becenti, but here are some of her most recent updates and related reporting from other news outlets:
Coalition of Officers Raids Benally's Hemp Farms - Navajo Times
Redfeather-Benally Replaces Dineh Benally on Farm Board - Navajo Times
Police Agencies Still Investigating Hemp Farms on Navajo Nation - Farmington Daily Times
Uprooted: A Police Raid Near Shiprock Has All But Ended an Illicit Cannabis-Growing Operation - Searchlight New Mexico
Episode Music:
Christian Bjoerklund - " Hallon"
Poddington Bear - "Good Times"
Testing and Regulations
The clock is officially ticking, if New Mexico wants to legalize recreational-use cannabis. That's because voters in Arizona approved a measure last week, legalizing the drug in another neighboring state. Lawmakers and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will no doubt make it a top priority for the 2021 session, but there are many questions still to be answered as the legislation is drafted. One of those questions as to do with testing and regulations. This week on Growing Forward, hosts Megan Kamerick and Andy Lyman dive into this issue as it relates to the state's medical program. As with most things, it turns out New Mexico is different than other states in how they handle testing and regulation, in a lot of different ways.
Arizona Legalizes Recreational Cannabis | Special
This week, Arizona voters approved an initiative to legalize recreational cannabis in that state. Hosts Andy Lyman and Megan Kamerick talk to Arizona Republic reporter Andrew Oxford about what that initiative entailed and what impacts it may have on New Mexico's push to also legalize recreational cannabis in the upcoming 60-day session.
Cannabis Education
This week, we go back to school on cannabis education. And, we're not just talking about understanding how to get your medical card and how the plant can help alleviate pain and discomfort or even, potentially, help a person kick an addiction to opiates. It also has to do with how much cannabis dispensary employees should know about medical conditions and advising patients on the proper strains and doses to take. We'll walk you through the process from beginning to end and find out what kind of training requirements the experts say there should be in this burgeoning industry.
Episode Music:
Podington Bear - "Good Times"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Neon Drip"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Building the Sled"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Svela Tal"
Christian Bjoerklund - "Hallon"
Pulling Back the Leaves
This week on "Growing Forward" we are truly pulling back the leaves, exploring more about the cannabis plant itself. Have you ever wondered how the plant works? Do you know what terpenes are? You will after listening to this episode! We'll also discuss other important issues, what goes into growing cannabis, and what it means for one of New Mexico's most precious resources: water.
Episode Music:
Podington Bear - "Good Times"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Doghouse"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Building the Sled"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Pastel De Nata"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Roundpine"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Low Light Switch"
Christian Bjoerklund - "Hallon"
Who's Running Things
This time on Growing Forward we take a closer look at those people running the medical cannabis program, and how legalizing recreational cannabis would impact how they do business. This includes manufacturers and dispensary owners. It's a diverse group of people at the heart of this industry, and includes some surprise names. We'll also delve into other issues like plant limits and licenses and well as management companies, a fairly new approach to work within those license limits.
Episode Music:
Podington Bear - "Good Times"
Christian Bjoerklund - "Hallon"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Building the Sled"
Kevin MacLeod - "Backed Vibes Session"
The Dynamics of Legalization
The push for the legalization of recreational cannabis has really picked up in recent years in the New Mexico legislature. In this week's episode, we look back at those efforts to date, and the strategy behind the legislation proposed in past sessions. We talk to lawmakers and advocates about how that legislation addresses complicated issues like restorative justice, protecting the medical cannabis program, and other regulation concerns.
An Abridged History of Medical Cannabis in New Mexico
The debate over medical cannabis use in New Mexico goes back to the 1970s. But it really cranked up in the 1990s, when former Governor Gary Johnson came out in support of legalization and decriminalization. It was a controversial stance at the time, but was coupled by the early stages of a push for legislation creating a medical cannabis program. That debate would last for nearly a decade, but the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act was signed into law in 2007. In this episode of "Growing Forward" we look back at that time and talk to lawmakers and advocates who worked tirelessly to create the nation's 13th medical cannabis program.
Suggested Reading:
Episode Music:
Blue Dot Sessions - "Svela Tal"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Highride"
Blue Dot Sessions - "Neon Drip"
Chad Crouch - "American Coot"
Chad Crouch - "Western Tanager"
Chad Crouch - "Wilson's Snipe"
Podington Bear - "Good Times"
Christian Bjoerklund - "Hallon"
Growing Forward Season 1 Preview Episode
"Growing Forward" is a podcast dedicated to covering the cannabis industry in New Mexico. Right now that only includes the medical program, but lawmakers are inching closer to legalizing recreational cannabis as well. Before we dive into all the intricacies and nuances of legalization, we wanted to take a step back and give you the history of how we got to this place and time. Hosts Andy Lyman of the NM Political Report and Megan Kamerick, Correspondent at NMPBS and on-air host at KUNM discuss the start of the medical program in New Mexico, and what happened with recent attempts to pass legalization legislation in the Roundhouse. Be sure to subscribe to "Growing Forward" today and listen in next week (September 29) as we officially premiere episode 1 of season 1.
Growing Forward Season 1 Trailer
Growing Forward is a journalistic endeavor designed to cover the cannabis industry in New Mexico. Season 1 officially premieres on Tuesday, September 22nd. The podcast is a collaboration between New Mexico PBS and New Mexico Political Report, with funding provided by the New Mexico Local News Fund.
Note: Interviews for Growing Forward were all conducted via Zoom as a part of our COVID-safe practices. Originally our plan was to do interviews in person, but in order to maintain social distancing and to keep everyone involved safe and healthy, we decided to use the technology available to us.
Growing Forward Logo Created By:
Katherine Conley