Las Cruces City Council postpones decision on Speak Easy business license

Michael McDevitt, Las Cruces Sun-News
·2 min read

LAS CRUCES - The city council postponed its decision over the fate of the business license of Speak Easy, the retail shop which got in trouble for gifting cannabis to customers last summer.

At its Tuesday meeting, the council was scheduled to decide whether to uphold or reverse the Community Development Department's decision to revoke Speak Easy's license in September over violations of city ordinance.

The shop has remained open while the decision has been appealed by the business.

Jason Estrada, whom the state Cannabis Control Division and the city have both identified as Speak Easy's owner, has been unable to meet with his attorney in person due to a recent illness, Deputy City Attorney Robert Cabello told councilors. Estrada's attorney, Matt Madrid, was not at the Jan. 18 meeting because he was in court at the same time, Cabello said..

Estrada allegedly directly sold marijuana on two occasions to undercover law enforcement at Speak Easy, including one time after his business received a cease and desist order from the CCD for gifting cannabis to customers who bought other items last July.

Local business owner Jason Estrada announced Sept. 15, 2021, that he'll run for Las Cruces mayor in 2023.
Local business owner Jason Estrada announced Sept. 15, 2021, that he'll run for Las Cruces mayor in 2023.

While he was charged with a fourth-degree felony in September, the case was dismissed earlier this month. The charges were the impetus for the city revoking Speak Easy's license, Community Development Director Larry Nichols wrote in the notice letter to Estrada.

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Madrid told the Sun-News he and his client would like to present to the city council on problems they've found with the law enforcement investigation.

Estrada has denied to the Sun-News he owns the business, having said he's only under contract to do marketing for the store. Estrada is listed as an organizer of the business. Madrid told the Sun-News Estrada is the store's general manager and the face of the business.

Cabello said Madrid requested the equivalent of a continuance for the case because of Estrada's situation. The city council voted 6-0 to postpone the vote until Feb. 8. Mayor Ken Miyagishima did not attend the meeting.

Estrada, who is also seeking mayoral office in 2023, did not return a request for comment.

Michael McDevitt is a city and county government reporter for the Sun-News. He can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces City Council postpones decision on Speak Easy business license