This week, Andy talks with Eric Speegle with Verdes Cannabis about important changes in the weed world, like the hemp ban, tax issues, and the Trump administration’s reclassification of marijuana.

We also talk about some of the cool things recent guests on the Lesser Known New Mexico Podcast have been up to and about Republican Duke Rodriguez, the latest candidate to toss his hat into the New Mexico gubernatorial race.

Other topics this week include:

* The Trump administration’s plans to close the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/climate/national-center-for-atmospheric-research-trump.html

* The late Letty Belin, a kickass water attorney who in the early 21st century won an important battle for water for endangered species on the Rio Grande — which U.S. Sens. Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman immediately overturned with a rider in the 2004 water and energy spending bill. (Talk about the good ol’ days of bipartisan politics!)

You can see Rep. Melanie Stansbury’s tribute to Belin on social media:

* Healthy Climate New Mexico’s recent candidate forum on climate change.

* Hakim Bellamy’s show on NMPBS: https://www.facebook.com/NewMexicoPBS/videos/across-new-mexico-civil-discourse-spotlights-a-group-of-new-mexicans-in-conversa/845392625053839/

* V.B. Price’s new book: https://casaurracapress.com/bookstore/p/innocence-regained

Music credits: Get Through It (Instrumental) by Neu Song.

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Thanks for listening to the Lesser Known New Mexico Podcast! Happy holidays and we’ll see you in 2026!

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