When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, however, those long meetings turned into Zoom calls that felt longer still.
Muñoz, 39, said he’s been interested in cannabis for years.
Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 2 into law in April, making New Mexico the 18th state to legalize cannabis for recreational use, Muñoz met his friends, Andrew Brown and Erika Hartwick Brown, for coffee to go over the specifics of the new law, drawing on his experience as a lobbyist.
He said he and the other founders haven’t taken paychecks since the summer, and are relying on savings to stay afloat while the company grows.
One challenge was finding a building that could house Carver Family Farm’s dispensary in Albuquerque’s notoriously tight rental market.
With a license in hand, Carver Family Farm has started growing cannabis ahead of the planned April 1 start date for the recreational program.