Enchantment State News

Rural New Mexico water officials believe that medical marijuana farms are straining local water supplies, High Times reported.

“The [cannabis] companies may think that the water rights were already taken care of when they purchased the property,” Peña Blanca Water and Sanitation District President John Gurule told the publication. “We see the potential for these farms to bring economic growth to a rural community, so how do we support that growth while bringing water to our residents?”

Peña Blanca and the Sile Mutual Domestic Water and Sewer Association sent state agencies and lawmakers a letter in December, laying out their concerns that medical marijuana is depleting local water supplies, High Times reported. Both water operations serve small rural areas – Peña Blanca serves 448 people and Sile serves 154 people.

The water officials want any producer that is applying for a medical-marijuana license to have a valid water right for commercial agriculture with the Office of the State Engineer.

John Romero, director of the Water Rights Division and the Resources Allocation Program for the Office of the State Engineer, told High Times that the increase in cannabis production and the alleged improper use of the water have not helped the issue.

“Cannabis hasn’t helped this situation," Romero said. "It is illegal to use domestic well-water for agriculture, but it is up to [Sile and Peña Blanca] to enforce that. We can’t police every mutual domestic water association, but we will work with them and help to see if these properties have a valid water right for what they want to do.”

Medical marijuana has been legal in New Mexico since 2007. One marijuana farm with greenhouses in Peña Blanca uses 20,000 gallons of domestic water each month, while the average household uses approximately 3,000 gallons per month, the magazine reported.