Roosevelt approves cannabis ordinance

PORTALES — After plenty of haggling and some striking of clauses, the Roosevelt County Commission approved its ordinance dealing with cannabis manufacturing, sale and consumption.

The ordinance, approved during a two-hour meeting Tuesday, only covers the unincorporated parts of the county. Any cannabis manufacture, sale and consumption within Portales city limits falls to the Portales City Council and the ordinance it will discuss in its Aug. 24 meeting.

The News covered the meeting virtually.

According to the ordinance:

• No cannabis establishment, cannabis consumption area, or cannabis courier may be located within 300 feet of a school or daycare center in existence at the time it sought a license.

• Cannabis retailers and cannabis consumption areas may not be located within 200 feet of another cannabis retailer or cannabis consumption area.

• Cannabis products may only be served and consumed in cannabis consumption areas, and cannabis retailers may only sell products for off-site consumption, 7 a.m.-midnight Monday through Saturday and noon to midnight Sunday.

• A permit is required, with a cost of $250 for the first year and $100 for annual renewal.

The commission struck sections referencing the odor associated with cannabis production. Commissioner Shane Lee said that felt like too much governmental control. He doesn’t believe it’s his job to say what is and isn’t a good smell and that people should be able to use their land as they see fit. He recalled people at one time being against wind turbines because they just didn’t want to see or hear them.

“I think we need to be more neighborly,” Lee said, “instead of telling our neighbors what to do.”

The commission also struck a proposed requirement that “a cannabis establishment must maintain a minimum separation distance of 1,000 feet from any residence, religious assembly or church, library, cultural center, community center, public park, or government facility.” Commission Chairman Tina Dixon feared a landowner could object to a cannabis establishment on their neighbor’s property, no matter where it is located on the property, because their overall properties are only a few feet apart.

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• Commissioners, by a 3-2 vote, decided against a change to evening meetings beginning in October.

The commission was approached in July by a group of citizens asking for a change from the meeting times of 9 a.m., citing difficulties for most working citizens to attend meetings and take part in their government.

Commissioner Rod Savage said he’d received calls from constituents who wanted evening meetings and who wanted keeping the 9 a.m. meetings as is. He believed citizens needed a chance to show up to the evening meetings, even if it was a trial run of one evening meeting every few months.

“If we had a better informed citizenry,” Savage said, “we’d have a better chance of returning power to the people. But having a meeting at 9 o’clock limits a lot of people. I think it’s important that students be able to get involved. I think there are some legitimate reasons for changing the time.”

Commissioner Dennis Lopez said he had mixed emotions on the topic, but countered that a system with some morning meetings and some evening meetings would create inconsistencies.

No matter when the meetings are scheduled, Commissioner Shane Lee said, somebody would not be able to attend. Many of Lee’s constituents don’t attend meetings, but he receives their input.

“I don’t know how many of you get calls every day,” Lee said. “I do, every day, and I bring it to the board.”

Chair Tina Dixon made a motion to hold the meetings, beginning in October, at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays to eliminate conflicts with Portales City Council meetings. Dixon was joined by Savage in support. Lee, Lopez and Commissioner Paul Grider voted no.

• The commission, by a 4-1 vote, approved a resolution stating its opposition to discrimination through the teaching of critical race theory.

The resolution states “critical race theory and related ideologies propagate divisive and untrue concepts that teach one race or sex is inherently superior to another and that individuals of one race or sex are inherently superior to another and that individuals of one race or sex should be deprived of basic rights simply because of their race or sex.”

Critical race theory, according to Education Week magazine, does not advocate such beliefs but includes a core idea “that racism is a social construct, and that it is not merely the product of individuals’ bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.”

Lee said there are already laws on the books against discrimination, and that wasn’t sure he saw the point of the resolution.

Savage responded the resolution was about taking a stand against what he called the woke movement.

“The problem is we’ve grown from that type of Legislature to a Legislature now that is controlled by liberal, left socialists,” Savage said. “The Constitution no longer is the supreme law of the land. Because of the woke movement, we need to be aware of our surroundings. That awareness means discrimination is inherent in our society. There are many people being oppressed. The United States of America is corrupt and needs to be changed. Along with that, we’re in a situation now where we have a governor who is a liberal person who has been mandating policy to our schools without constitutional authority, through the use of statutes. I feel that the next piece of legislation coming from public education is going to be for us to include critical race theory in our curriculums and our schools. I do not want our students to be taught they are second-class because of the actions of their forefathers. Those kids need to have a positive self-image. Critical race theory teaches because you’re white, you’re the problem and you should come to terms with your white privilege.

I see this woke movement as a bunch of people who are feeling sorry for themselves, who need to get down and go to work and enjoy the privileges we have in this country.”

Lopez said he agreed with some of the things commissioner savage said, but did not appreciate the insinuations Savage made.

“I think it’s pretty offensive,” Lopez said, “whether you think it’s funny or not. I’m a Democrat, but I’m far from being a liberal socialist.”

Lopez added that he didn’t see why Savage was presenting the matter at the county level, when he sees it as a school board issue and that Savage is on the Portales school board.

Savage said he failed to choose his words wisely, and apologized to Lopez.

“There are many great Democrat people who choose that party,” Savage said. “They’re good, God-fearing people. I have many friends who are Democrats. I shouldn’t have used those words.”

Lopez, who cast the lone dissenting vote, accepted the apology and said he enjoys working with Savage.

• The commission approved its Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan list, which lists projects for which the county may seek funding from the Legislature.

The top priorities in the approved list were upgrades at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds to reduce flooding risks and improve access under the Americans with Disabilities Act, electrical work at the Roosevelt County Adult Detention Center, heavy road equipment purchase, sheriff’s office fleet repairs and county courthouse renovations.

• The next commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 24 at the Roosevelt County Courthouse.