Biden Slammed for Inaction As Feds Raid Licensed Marijuana Businesses: Rep. Blumenauer Urges Swift Response

In recent weeks, what appears to be a shift in cannabis control policy has been observed in New Mexico where U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have confiscated hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of marijuana from state-sanctioned cannabis operations and temporarily detained a dozen industry workers. 

What Happened: These actions are an inexplicable departure from the federal government’s supposed hands-off approach to state-legal cannabis activities. New Mexico, where cannabis has been legal since 2022, shares a 180-mile border with Mexico. These seizures, which have reportedly occurred around the Las Cruces and Albuquerque area, have disrupted the supply chains of businesses that transport their products across the state for testing and retail purposes. 

These stops have resulted in the detention of industry workers and the confiscation of substantial quantities of cannabis. The legal grounds for these stops, which have resulted in detentions and confiscations, is that the CBP is authorized to control illegal substances within 100 miles of the U.S. border.

This complicated issue will surely be discussed at the April 16-17 Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Florida.

Urgent Call for Federal Cannabis Policy Reform

Highlighting the tension between state-level legalization and federal prohibition, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) criticized the Biden administration for its lack of protective measures for states like New Mexico. Blumenauer’s statements to Marijuana Moment stressed the administration’s failure to align federal enforcement policies with the progressive cannabis laws adopted by several states. He accused the federal government of lagging behind and creating a legal grey area that harms both the cannabis industry and the states that have chosen to legalize marijuana.

Blumenauer has been proactive in seeking change; he recently penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging the Department of Justice to renew guidance on federal marijuana enforcement. This guidance aims to limit federal interference in state cannabis programs and reduce the legal ambiguity around cannabis. 

The CBP’s recent actions in New Mexico underscore the ongoing conflict between state initiatives to legalize cannabis and federal laws that still categorize it as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Drug Seizures Events Surpass 2023 Actions

According to the Drug Seizure Statistics available on the CBP website, marijuana seizures have increased in 2024 as compared to last year.

This situation underscores the broader debate around cannabis legalization and the urgent need for federal policy reform to resolve disparities between state and federal laws.

Read also: GOP Senator Calls Out Security Threat At Border Due To Customs Agency’s Cannabis Policies For Agents

The contradiction between federal and local legislation has created problems throughout the cannabis production chain and at the consumer level. As states continue to push forward with legalization, the federal government’s response remains a pivotal issue for both policymakers and the entire cannabis industry.

The Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is returning to Florida at a new venue in Hollywood, on April 16-17. The two-day event at The Diplomat Beach Resort will be a chance for entrepreneurs, both large and small, to network, learn and grow. Renowned for its trendsetting abilities and influence on the future of cannabis, mark your calendars – this conference is the go-to event of the year for the cannabis world.

Get your tickets now on bzcannabis.com – Prices will increase very soon!