Grants and Milan businesses have generated more than $13.8 million in combined cannabis sales since adult-use legalization, while local operators say competition has tightened margins
CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Cannabis has become part of Cibola County’s retail economy.
Since adult-use cannabis sales were legalized in New Mexico in April 2022, dispensaries in Grants and Milan have reported more than $13.8 million in combined cannabis sales, according to data from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department provided for the Cibola Economic Report.
The numbers do not tell the entire story, but they show how quickly the industry has become a noticeable part of the local business landscape and a strength to the economy.
In the City of Grants, total cannabis sales reached $10,976,818.26 through March 2026, including $4,104,904.27 in medical sales and $6,871,913.99 in adultuse sales. The city recorded 281,387 total cannabis transactions during that period.
In the Village of Milan, total cannabis sales reached $2,862,692.01 through March 2026, including $568,025.73 in medical sales and $2,294,666.28 in adult-use sales. Milan recorded 88,815 total cannabis transactions.
Statewide, cannabis sales continue to represent a significant retail market.
In March 2026 alone, New Mexico reported $48,113,535.59 in total cannabis sales, including $10,209,549.18 in medical sales and $37,903,986.42 in adultuse sales.
Since legalization, the state has reported more than $2.2 billion in total cannabis sales and more than 49 million transactions.
Marijuana as a Culture
In Cibola County, the marijuana industry sits at an intersection of small business, tax revenue, health claims, recreation funding and Route 66 identity.
In Grants, cannabis tax revenue has been directed toward the city’s recreation department, tying the industry to public amenities at a time when local governments continue looking for ways to stretch limited resources.
But for the business owners themselves, the market is not simply easy money.
Grants Mayor Erik Garcia, who owns Grassroots Marijuana Dispensary in Grants and was among the area’s early medical cannabis license holders, said the industry has become highly competitive. Garcia spoke about the business during a broader interview about local recreation and economic activity.
He said sales totals can make the industry appear more profitable than it feels from inside the business.
The challenge, Garcia said, is that dispensaries are competing heavily on price. Discounts, specials and low-cost products may bring people through the door, but they also reduce profit margins for the business.
Garcia said cannabis flower has become difficult to sell profitably, leading him to look toward other parts of the business, including growing plants and feminized seeds. He said his operation has worked to develop strong success rates with its plants, allowing the business to consider selling to other growers.
Milan’s cannabis economy has also developed its own local identity.
Uncle Roy’s Marijuana Dispensary on Route 66 in Milan is one example of a homegrown operation competing in the market with local ownership, recognizable pricing and family involvement. The business has also brought attention to Milan with its roadside, world’s largest “roach clip” display along Historic Route 66, a piece of roadside character that lights up at night and has drawn attention beyond the village.
Marijuana-centered events like recent 420 celebrations held at local dispensaries have been drawing crowds to enjoy marijuana with each other. Recently, the Grants Planning and Zoning approved a permit for Grassroots in Grants to be a consumable area for patrons, not unlike a bar for alcohol.
The cannabis industry is not large enough by itself to transform Cibola County’s economy. It does not replace mining, corrections, education, government employment, health care or tourism. But it has become one more comfortable pieces of the local economic mix.
Medical Benefits
Before New Mexico legalized recreational marijuana, it legalized the use for medical purposes.
In Grants, adult-use sales account for about 63% of total cannabis sales reported through March 2026. In Milan, adult-use sales account for about 80% of total cannabis sales.
Grants Mayor Garcia also offered a more personal view of cannabis, saying he does not see it as a simple cure-all. He said marijuana can be part of a person’s lifestyle, creativity or relaxation, but he cautioned against viewing it as something that automatically solves deeper personal struggles.
Medical marijuana is still accessible to New Mexican with a recreation card.
The data shows steady customer activity.
For Cibola County, the industry is now part of the economic landscape – visible in monthly sales reports, storefronts in Grants and Milan, recreation funding decisions and even the bright lights of Route 66.