New Mexico dispensary stays open despite State Fair violation

A New Mexico judge has issued a ruling that prohibits the state health department from imposing a penalty against a medical marijuana dispensary for displaying a cannabis plant at last summer’s State Fair.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Judge David Thomson ruled that requiring New Mexico Top Organics-Ultra Health to close for five days was an excessive punishment not supported by law. He did uphold a $100 fine for the dispensary.

The nonprofit marijuana producer had filed a petition saying the closure would’ve resulted in a loss of $150,000 and deprived patients of medicine.

Top Organics-Ultra Health Chief Financial Officer Duke Rodriquez says State Fair officials gave the producer permission to display the plant before they received complaints from “higher up” that it needed to be removed.

– Associated Press