Kneeling among rows of dead marijuana plants, Pamela Craddock shared a grim look with her husband. They decided this year to let their plants die and call it quits after years of trying to make a living in the industry.The issue? Water rights.
The Craddocks entered the cannabis industry as soon as the state legalized it recreationally in 2021, and with zero debt. They are leaving it with $40,000 in loans, opting to abandon the practice rather than scrounging around for thousands of more dollars — at the least — to buy water rights for the farm.
A recent policy shift made by state cannabis regulators, an effort to prevent illegal water practices, is largely barring growers from using water hauling as a primary water source for the farms. Many smaller, rural operators that have hauled water for years are left in tough spots, either unable to afford expensive water rights or unable to secure the rights due to location.
Water rights have a long and complicated history in New Mexico, dating back centuries to traditional water practices and conflicts among Indigenous and Spanish communities. Fast forward to the present, and New Mexico is locked in a yearslong legal battle with neighboring states Colorado and Texas over Rio Grande water.
Read more at ABQ Journal