Biden administration maintains marijuana remains a federal offense, subject to confiscation by federal agents despite being legal for medicinal and recreational use in New Mexico.
Governor believes seizures harm smaller cannabis companies and leads some to explore alternative methods like using drones for transportation.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham expresses frustration over $300,000 worth of seized marijuana from licensed distributors at U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints in last two months.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has expressed her frustration towards the Biden administration over the seizure of marijuana products from licensed distributors in New Mexico at U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints. The governor believes that these seizures are particularly harmful to smaller cannabis companies, known as 'baby producers,' which are unique to New Mexico's legal market.
According to reports, Customs and Border Protection officers have seized over $300,000 worth of state-licensed marijuana in the last two months. This has led some cannabis growers and producers residing south of the checkpoints to explore alternative methods for transporting their product north, such as using drones for small amounts.
Governor Lujan Grisham has called Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' response to the crackdown 'inappropriate' and has urged action. Producers south of the checkpoints are also employing pre-legalization tactics, like sending multiple 'lead cars' through a checkpoint before the shipment van, to ensure safe delivery of their product.
The Biden administration maintains that marijuana remains a federal offense and is subject to confiscation by federal agents despite being legal for medicinal and recreational use in New Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection warns individuals violating the Controlled Substances Act encountered while crossing the border, arriving at a U.S. port of entry, or at a Border Patrol checkpoint may be subject to seizure, fines, and/or arrest.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seized more than $300,000 of state-licensed cannabis in New Mexico in the last two months.
Cannabis growers and producers residing south of the checkpoints are scrambling to find ways to get their product north, with some considering drone transport for small amounts of product.
Governor Lujan Grisham called Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ response to the crackdown ‘inappropriate’ and pushed for action.
Cannabis producers south of the checkpoints are using pre-legalization tactics, such as sending multiple ‘lead cars’ through a checkpoint before the shipment van, to ensure safe delivery of their product.
Accuracy
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was offended by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ response to her concern about Customs and Border Protection agents seizing marijuana products from licensed businesses in her state.
Deception
(30%)
The article makes several statements that imply deception through selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author reports on the seizure of cannabis by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in New Mexico, but fails to mention that these seizures are in accordance with federal law which prohibits the possession and transportation of cannabis across state lines, regardless of state laws allowing it. The author also quotes Ben Lewinger, executive director of the New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, who expresses frustration over CBP's actions and questions their jurisdiction. However, the author does not provide any context or counterargument from CBP or the Biden administration to balance out Lewinger's perspective. This selective reporting creates an emotional response in readers by portraying CBP as heavy-handed enforcers who are targeting legal businesses and causing tension with the governor, without providing a complete picture of the situation. Additionally, the author uses phrases like 'desperately trying to evade border checkpoints' and 'scrambling to find ways to get their product north', which add an emotional tone and sensationalize the issue.
It doesn’t feel like this really has anything to do with what their role is. They’re supposed to detain people entering the country illegally, and then detain narcotics and other dangerous items also entering the country illegally.
The fact is that I have a federal job to do. Marijuana is federally illegal.
These seizures occurred at border patrol checkpoints, some of which lie as far as 80 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
The state’s cannabis businesses – which operate legally under state law – are also desperately trying to evade border checkpoints.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several instances of appeals to authority and dichotomous depictions. The author quotes an unnamed senior Biden administration official without providing any context or evidence that the official is an expert on the issue at hand. This appeal to authority occurs multiple times throughout the article when various officials are quoted without any justification for their expertise or credibility. Additionally, there is a clear dichotomy between state and federal law regarding marijuana, with the author presenting it as a black-and-white issue rather than acknowledging the complexities and nuances involved. For example, the author states that 'Cannabis producers south of the checkpoints are hustling to find a solution' without considering that there may be valid reasons for federal enforcement actions or alternative solutions that do not involve breaking state or federal laws.
The wave of seizures mark a clear departure from long-standing federal policy, wherein law enforcement officials have largely taken a hands-off approach to enforcement in the 38 states that have legalized medical or recreational cannabis possession in conflict with federal law.
, an unnamed senior Biden administration official
They’re supposed to detain people entering the country illegally, and then detain narcotics and other dangerous items also entering the country illegally.
Cannabis growers and producers residing south of the checkpoints are now scrambling to find ways to get their product north.
In a recent phone conversation with an unnamed senior Biden administration official, Lujan Grisham called Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ response to the crackdown inappropriate.
Bias
(15%)
The article demonstrates a clear bias against the federal government's actions in seizing state-licensed cannabis in New Mexico. The author uses language that depicts the federal government's actions as 'a departure from long-standing federal policy,' 'inappropriate,' and a 'clear departure from what their role is.' The article also implies that the seizures are unnecessary and distracting, stating that the Department of Homeland Security should be focusing on stopping illicit fentanyl instead.
It doesn’t feel like this really has anything to do with what their role is.
It's nothing super advanced. It's kind of what was happening at the very beginning of the medical days, or even in the illicit days.
Stopping the flow of illicit fentanyl into our country should be the Department of Homeland Security's focus at these checkpoints, not seizing cannabis that's being transported in compliance with state law.
The fact is that I have a federal job to do. Marijuana is federally illegal.
They're supposed to detain people entering the country illegally, and then detain narcotics and other dangerous items also entering the country illegally.
President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign criticized Trump for taking marijuana reform backwards.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was offended by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ reaction to her concern about Customs and Border Protection agents seizing marijuana products from licensed businesses in her state.
North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe approved the format of a marijuana legalization initiative, clearing activists to begin collecting signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot.
Thailand’s public health minister signed a directive allowing use of psilocybin and opium for medical treatment and research.
Elon Musk tweeted about Ayahuasca leading to deep personal insights.
Accuracy
]New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was offended by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ reaction to her concern about Customs and Border Protection agents seizing marijuana products from licensed businesses in her state.[
At least six incidents have been reported to state regulators where employees of licensed New Mexico marijuana businesses were stopped and detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), resulting in the seizure of at least 70 pounds of regulated product.
Democratic New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham accuses President Joe Biden’s administration of ‘persecuting’ her state in a secretly recorded audio.
Lujan Grisham expresses frustration over the lack of Border Patrol agents in Sunland Park, a small southern New Mexico city on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border reached a record high of 249,737 in December.
Lujan Grisham criticizes the confiscation of marijuana at U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints within New Mexico, which she says is impacting small producers and hindering medical access.
The Biden administration maintains that marijuana remains a federal offense and subject to confiscation by federal agents, despite being legal for medicinal and recreational use in New Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection warns that individuals violating the Controlled Substances Act encountered while crossing the border, arriving at a U.S. port of entry, or at a Border Patrol checkpoint may be subject to seizure, fines, and/or arrest.
Accuracy
Customs and Border Protection warns that individuals violating the Controlled Substances Act encountered while crossing the border, arriving at a U.S. port of entry, or at a Border Patrol checkpoint may be subject to seizure, fines, and/or arrest.
Deception
(30%)
The author uses emotional manipulation by portraying the governor as being 'boxed in' and feeling 'offended' by the Biden administration. The author also uses selective reporting by only mentioning Lujan Grisham's frustrations without providing context about the federal laws regarding marijuana or her previous communications with Mayorkas. Additionally, there is a lack of disclosure of sources.
Either we have to adjust it,\nOr I have to send you a letter saying, \u0027You\u0027re persecuting a state, you are not using your discretion, you\u0027re not working with me on immigration.' And I don't want to send that letter.
They're saying that they're worried about fentanyl so they're taking all of our cannabis,\nAnd they've detained people.
Well, first of all, it's patients' medicine,\nSo, I was really offended by that. Shame on him ... If [small producers] lose a load, their business goes belly up. I thought that was really inappropriate.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author, Aila Slisco, uses inflammatory rhetoric by quoting the Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stating 'They’re saying that they’re worried about fentanyl so they’re taking all of our cannabis,' and 'Either we have to adjust it, Or I have to send you a letter saying, “You’re persecuting a state, you are not using your discretion, you’re not working with me on immigration.” And I don’t want to send that letter.' These statements imply that the Biden administration is intentionally targeting New Mexico and persecuting its residents. However, it is important to note that the governor's comments were made in a private conversation and were not intended for public consumption. Additionally, the author does not provide any context or evidence to support her assertion that the Biden administration is specifically targeting New Mexico or using excessive force in confiscating marijuana at checkpoints. Therefore, while there are instances of inflammatory rhetoric used by the governor and reported by the author, it is unclear if these statements accurately reflect the situation and if they constitute a logical fallacy on the part of the Biden administration.
They’re saying that they’re worried about fentanyl so they’re taking all of our cannabis,
Either we have to adjust it, Or I have to send you a letter saying, “You’re persecuting a state, you are not using your discretion, you’re not working with me on immigration.” And I don’t want to send that letter.
Bias
(80%)
The author uses language that depicts the Biden administration as persecuting New Mexico and not using discretion, implying a monetary bias towards cannabis producers. The author also expresses frustration over the confiscation of marijuana at U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints in New Mexico, which could be seen as an ideological bias towards legalizing marijuana.
They're saying that they're worried about fentanyl so they're taking all of our cannabis,
New Mexico is the only state that allows baby producers in the cannabis industry.
At least six incidents have been reported to state regulators where employees of licensed New Mexico marijuana businesses were stopped and detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), resulting in the seizure of at least 70 pounds of regulated product.
Accuracy
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seized more than $300,000 of state-licensed cannabis in New Mexico in the last two months.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is frustrated with the seizure of recreational and medicinal marijuana from licensed distributors in New Mexico at U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints.
The governor believes New Mexico is the only state that allows ‘baby producers’ or smaller homegrown cannabis companies into the legalized market, and that these businesses are at risk due to seizures.
Ben Lewinger, executive director of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, echoed Lujan Grisham’s concerns about the impact of seizures on smaller cannabis companies.
Accuracy
]New Mexico is the only state that allows 'baby producers' or smaller homegrown cannabis companies into the legalized market['
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham believes New Mexico is the only state that allows 'baby producers' or smaller homegrown cannabis companies into the legalized market
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as the author only reports details that support Lujan Grisham's position and fails to mention any potential justifications for the federal seizures. The author also uses emotional manipulation by describing Lujan Grisham as being 'frustrated' and 'boxed in', implying that the reader should feel sympathy for her. Additionally, there is a lack of disclosure regarding the source of the recording and who Lujan Grisham was speaking to.
Whatever you all want to do about that, but it was really inappropriate.
Here’s what also the secretary said to me, just so you know: ‘Oh, who cares? They make a lot of money.’
An unauthorized audio recording of Lujan Grisham having a private telephone conversation on a recent airplane flight captured the governor voicing her unfiltered grievances to an unidentified high-ranking official in the Biden administration.
But I’m boxed in, hard.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(50%)
The author expresses frustration with the federal government's seizure of marijuana from licensed distributors in New Mexico and criticizes Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for dismissing the financial losses suffered by these businesses. The author also uses language that depicts Mayorkas as being insensitive to the plight of small producers and patients who rely on medicinal marijuana.
Here’s what also the secretary said to me, just so you know: ‘Oh, who cares? They make a lot of money.’
If they lose a load, their business goes belly up.
I was really offended by that. Shame on him.
Whatever you all want to do about that, but it was really inappropriate.
