The sale of recreational cannabis will become legal on April 1, but demand will likely exceed supply, according to experts.

New Mexico lawmakers legalized recreational cannabis last year, and some producers say there hasn’t been enough time to build up a supply to meet what is expected to be high early demand.

"What we have today is what we are going to serve the market," Duke Rodriguez, president of Ultra Health, said to KRQE. "Is it going to be enough? The answer is 'no.' On day one, it’s going to be a challenge, as it’s going to be a challenge for maybe as long as 9 to 12 to 18 months."

The state last estimated there were over one million mature plants, according to Rodriguez. A spokeswoman for the state agency overseeing cannabis said licenses have been granted for 228 retail shops, KRQE reported. The number of shops that will open on April 1 is uncertain.

The Cannabis Control Division (CCD) expects any shortage will stabilize quickly. "I cannot imagine this, nor do we anticipate stores selling completely out,” Kristen Thompson, director of the CCD, told KRQE. “Unless they were only selling one product.”

Thompson said the CCD is expecting an "exciting start" to recreational sales, which will be available to those 21 and older, according to KRQE.