Green day: Cannabis sales begin with a few hiccups

The era of legal recreational marijuana began Friday morning in Tucumcari, but not without a few hiccups due to supply shortages and one business' computer-system issues.

Only one of an estimated eight retail cannabis businesses that are set up in Tucumcari opened Friday morning for New Mexico's first day of legal recreational cannabis sales.

And the one business that opened on Friday, Buds n' More on South First Street near the Interstate 40 exit, didn't conduct hardly any cannabis sales due to computer-network problems that weren't resolved until about 12:30 p.m.

After that, Buds n' More co-owner Leif Gray of Tucumcari said he soon had 40 people lined up outside the door. By 2:30 p.m. Friday, at least a dozen people still were waiting outside to buy cannabis and related products.

"We're rocking and rolling now," he said.

Numerous area officials have expressed hope recreational marijuana sales in the weeks and months ahead will provide a sizable boost to Tucumcari's business community - especially with customers coming from nearby Texas, where recreational marijuana remains illegal.

Buds n' More wouldn't allow cameras inside, but manager Steve Farmer showed the various types of cannabis products available before sales began Friday morning. It was selling vapes, extracts and gummy candies all laced with THC, the active psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

It also offered six varieties of marijuana flower with names such as Blue Lime Pie, Peanut Butter Breath and Raspberry Diesel.

Farmer said those names aren't a mask for mediocre marijuana.

"This is (quality) comparable to what you see in Albuquerque or Santa Fe," he said.

Buds n' More also had a few stickers for sale, and apparel was coming soon.

All transactions were cash only, with the possibility of debit cards being allowed in the future.

The first Buds n' More customer shortly after its soft opening at 9 a.m. Friday was Matt Monahan of rural Tucumcari. He bought a cannabis vaporizer and some cannabis-infused seltzers.

"I'm excited to see this this happen in Tucumcari," he said. "It's something new. I haven't smoked a lot of pot since college, but I wanted to be the first customer in Tucumcari because I'm all about supporting local businesses."

Farmer said shortages of cannabis product likely would persist for weeks. In fact, he said sporadic supply problems won't entirely disappear until the state's cannabis production slowly ramps up over the next three years.

Co-owner Angelica Gray, who took two weeks off her job as Tucumcari city clerk to help launch Buds n' More, largely credited Farmer with acquiring enough marijuana products for the Friday opening.

"Our biggest hurdle (to opening) was finding product," she said. "Once we got our license and Steve made his connections for flower, it was smooth rolling. Our vendors say the shortages are real. He's already placing more orders and finding different vendors."

In perhaps an indication of those supply problems, a Quay County Sun check of a half-dozen other cannabis businesses slated to open in Tucumcari showed they remained closed Friday.

One of them was Route 66 Buds, in the old Comcast building on South First Street. Co-owner Jill Gregory, who had moved with her husband to Tucumcari from Texas, said it wouldn't open until May 1 or June 1 - despite it being the first in the city to receive a retail cannabis license from the state.

"We've had a few hiccups along the way," Gregory said Friday morning, who wouldn't elaborate.

Bud In Bud Out, which the previous weekend painted its East Main Street building green in anticipation of cannabis sales, stated on social media it was "working to open very soon!"

Puff on 66, housed in former Verizon Wireless building on East Tucumcari Boulevard, didn't open but extended congratulations on social media to Buds n' More.

Nearly 30 various cannabis applications in the Tucumcari area have been filed, according to the state's Cannabis Control Division database. No such licenses have been granted or requested in other areas of Quay County.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham stated in a news release Friday more than 250 cannabis retailers were licensed and "ready to go" on the first day of legal recreational cannabis sales. The legislature legalized recreational marijuana during a special session in 2021.

The Cannabis Control Division reported more than $500,000 in sales were reported before mid-afternoon Friday.

About an hour after Buds n' More's soft opening Friday, Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce director Scott Crotzer held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. To his surprise, about 25 people showed up to participate. A dozen more - some of them observers, some of them prospective customers - watched from the wings.

"I'm excited about the anticipation that's obviously been building throughout the community," Crotzer said. "It's one of the biggest ribbon-cuttings we've had. It's awesome."

Crotzer said he's aware a few residents might have objected to marijuana sales for moral reasons. He said he didn't detect any of that when the ribbon-cutting was scheduled.

"I was thinking there might be some kickback, but there hasn't been at all," he said. "My board was in complete support. I welcome a cannabis business because we joined the chamber of commerce for cannabis. We are really accepting in my organization, as well. It seems like the community support is overwhelming."

Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield said before the ceremony: "We're excited for new businesses here in Tucumcari."