“Hide & Seek”: New Mexico Dispensaries Experience String of Break-ins
Over the past few weeks, multiple dispensaries across New Mexico—including Dark Matter, Top Crop, and Pecos Valley Production—have been hit by break-ins. Reports, including video and photos, have been circulated online depicting individuals allegedly as young as 12 breaking into dispensaries.
Children of the Corn
These incidents come on the heels of the New Mexico CCD pushing for stricter guardrails around packaging and youth appeal. Now you have a situation where products—some tied to brands previously highlighted in regulatory discussions—are surfacing online as stolen loot, possibly by underage individuals. This isn’t just a run of isolated thefts. It’s a bad look for operators, and potential ammo for regulators to say “told you so…”.
The Tale of Solomon Pena
Solomon Pena was a Republican candidate who lost an election for House in 2022. After losing his election, he allegedly refused to accept the results and started targeting local Democratic officials. Prosecutors say he conspired with and paid people to carry out drive-by shootings at the homes of multiple elected officials in the Albuquerque area.
Authorities described him as the “mastermind” behind the attacks rather than the trigger man. He was arrested in early 2023 and charged with:
Conspiracy
Multiple counts tied to the shootings
Firearm-related offenses
This wasn’t some random crime—it was political retaliation turned into organized violence. A guy loses an election, decides the system is rigged, and instead of filing complaints or fading out, he allegedly bankrolls intimidation through gunfire.
MK Ultra
Are these stories connected at all? Absolutely not. It’s just very inconvenient that now we have a situation where a bill doesn’t pass, some alleged scoundrels run up in some dispos with a backpack, make a beeline for the vape wall, then proceed to post it online like trophies. Coincidence? Probably. Just delusional thoughts from a medicated mind.
Witchhunt
This is where operators need to pay attention. Break-ins are one problem. What those break-ins turn into is another. Don’t be the reason regulators have more excuses to tighten the leash. PUT YOUR INVENTORY IN THE VAULT. Yes, taking down the pegboard sucks, but if product is visible, identifiable, and accessible, it doesn’t just increase risk—it shapes the story that follows.
And right now, that story is being written in real time.
