Albuquerque IDO (amended 2021) allows licensed cannabis retail in most commercial and mixed-use zones with a 300 ft buffer from K-12 schools and daycare (NMSA §26-2C-14). Bernalillo County allows retail in C-1 and C-2 with similar buffers. Local licensing on top of state Cannabis Control Division approval.
Following the 2021 Cannabis Regulation Act, Albuquerque amended its IDO (effective 2021-2022) to permit Cannabis Retail Establishments in MX-L, MX-M, MX-H, NR-C, NR-BP, and all commercial zones as a permissive use, with stricter conditional-use review in some mixed-use zones. State law (NMSA §26-2C-14) imposes a 300 ft buffer from K-12 schools and licensed daycare. Bernalillo County's zoning code permits cannabis retail in C-1 Neighborhood Commercial and C-2 Community Commercial districts subject to the same 300 ft school buffer. Operating hours in Albuquerque are typically 7 AM to 10 PM under state license conditions. Local jurisdictions cannot ban cannabis retail entirely — the CRA preempts municipal bans — but can impose reasonable time/place/manner regulations. Security requirements include video surveillance, alarms, and secure storage under NM Cannabis Control Division rules (NMAC 16.8). On-premises consumption lounges require separate licensing.
Unlicensed operation: state felony under NMSA §30-31-20 plus local zoning enforcement. Buffer violations: state license revocation. Zoning code violations: $500 to $5,000 under IDO §14-16-6-9.
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See how Bernalillo County's dispensary zoning rules stack up against other locations.
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