Hip-Hop Video Shot at Licensed Cannabis Grow Facility Raises Concern

A licensed grow facility in Albuquerque raises concerns by New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program officials after a hip-hop cannabis music video was filmed on location.

Versatile Verse is a hip-hop artist who shot a recent video at Ultra Health, which is owned by New Mexico Top Organics. His video for the hit “New Mexico” has received over 7,187 views on YouTube.

Ultra Health is just one of 35 permitted cannabis cultivators in the state of New Mexico. Concerns have been shared by the New Mexico MedIcal Cannabis Program of exactly how the hip-hop artists were able to film alongside hundreds of cannabis plants that were supposed to be under strict security.

According to Albuquerque Journal, The Manager of New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program, Ken Groggel, wrote a letter to Ultra Health. The letter from September 1 questioned, “What is the intended purpose of the video?” Groggel asked, “Who is the intended audience?”

The President and CEO of Ultra Health, Duke Rodriguez shared how this wasn’t the only music video that has been filmed within their grow operation. “It’s kind of funny,” Rodriguez said. “It’s kind of like the Department of Health is expressing a dislike for music, or maybe that type of music.”

Rodriguez also explained that the hip-hop artists were being monitored and managed by Ultra Health staff. He shared in a telephone interview with Albuquerque Journal, “There was never any risk to the plant or to the [medical cannabis] patient.”

The artists can even been seen in the video taking necessary precautions, as they wore blue medical gloves.

Officials have been awaiting to hear back from Ultra Health with a deadline for a response of September 16, which has since passed. There has not been an update to Ultra Health’s Instagram, which first broke the story by posting the letter from the New Mexico Department of Health.