Pecos Valley Production received a Special Use Permit from the Artesia City Council during the April 12th regular council meeting. The Special Use Permit meets the strict requirements for the location of a retail cannabis dispensary within the city limits. A retail dispensary may not be within 300 feet of a school or residential neighborhood or in the historic Arts and Cultural District located in the downtown area. The placement of the dispensary at 501 1st Street: Blair Addition, Block 9, Lots 1 and 3 North 50’ of Lots 2 and 4, Vacated Alley, and South 40’ of the Vacated Missouri Avenue, more commonly known as the location of the Chaos Cafe, took careful research and planning to fit within the parameters of the new city code regarding cannabis regulation.

Owners, members of the Greathouse family, of Roswell, NM were in attendance of the meeting as well as employees who manage the business aspects of Pecos Valley Production. The business answered a multitude of questions about their operations, explaining that the location in Artesia will be their 15th store. Other locations include stores in Roswell, Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Ruidoso, Albuquerque, and more.

Ex-mayor, Raye Miller, stood to address council during the three-minute allotted time for public comment. Mr. Miller encouraged the adoption of the Special Use Permit because the business had met all necessary requirements. Rejecting the permit would potentially ensnare the city in costly litigation to appeal the decision. A former employee of Pecos Valley Production also stood to address council following Mr. Miller. He described Pecos Valley Production as a great and upstanding company to work for.

With a motion to approve the Special Use Permit from Councilman Raul Rodriguez, the council voted unanimously to approve the permit submitted by Pecos Valley Productions for a retail cannabis dispensary in Artesia.