The New Mexico Department of Health now has licensed five growers of medical marijuana although one of them says he was surprised the state didn't set more rules for his mini-farm.
Four of the growing licenses are newly issued.
The state wants to be sure the pot intended for easing pain doesn't end up on the streets.
Other states have laws permitting the use of marijuana for medical needs, but New Mexico is the first to license growers. Each can produce enough marijuana for 100 sick people.
"This is all a learning process for everybody," Executive Director Len Goodman of NewMexicann Natural Medicine said. "If we make deliveries by the end of February, it will be amazing.
"It's more likely March."
He's not allowed to tell anyone where his pot plantation is, Goodman added. That's one of the security measures the state makes these growers follow.
Goodman, himself a user of medical marijuana, said his facility will be like a mini-fortress.
"A secure building, block building," he said. "Whatever windows there might be, bars on the windows, normal security system, surveillance systems, taping systems."
Goodman came up with the plan, and the state gave him a license. He was surprised health officials did not have a set standard for potential growers.
"They don't give you any answers, and they don't give you any guidelines," he continued. "They are saying you do the work."
Dr. Steve Jenison heads up the medical cannabis program for the State Health Department.
"Certain applicants will learn from the experience of other applicants and people that are producers but, I don't think that there is a set solution to the problem." Jenison said.
Before approval the Health Department does a walk-through of the facility. After the permit is signed, the checkups don't stop.
"What we will do initially is probably two inspections a year and then increase those depending upon whether or not we feel we are getting the information we need out of that many inspections," Jenison said.
Inspectors will examine the books to make sure no one's making any money on the side.
"We will be checking to make sure there is no diversion of medical cannabis into the illicit marijuana market," Jenison said.
Goodman conceded there's room for abuse as with any business, but he said he's not in it for the money. Instead he just wants to help people, he said.
One of the five licensed growers is in an urban area; the other four are in the middle of nowhere. Their permits are good for one year and can be revoked at any time.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: KRQE News 13
Author: Alex Tomlin
Contact: KRQE News 13
Copyright: 2009 KRQE News 13
Website: Health Dept. Licenses 5 Marijuana Farms
Four of the growing licenses are newly issued.
The state wants to be sure the pot intended for easing pain doesn't end up on the streets.
Other states have laws permitting the use of marijuana for medical needs, but New Mexico is the first to license growers. Each can produce enough marijuana for 100 sick people.
"This is all a learning process for everybody," Executive Director Len Goodman of NewMexicann Natural Medicine said. "If we make deliveries by the end of February, it will be amazing.
"It's more likely March."
He's not allowed to tell anyone where his pot plantation is, Goodman added. That's one of the security measures the state makes these growers follow.
Goodman, himself a user of medical marijuana, said his facility will be like a mini-fortress.
"A secure building, block building," he said. "Whatever windows there might be, bars on the windows, normal security system, surveillance systems, taping systems."
Goodman came up with the plan, and the state gave him a license. He was surprised health officials did not have a set standard for potential growers.
"They don't give you any answers, and they don't give you any guidelines," he continued. "They are saying you do the work."
Dr. Steve Jenison heads up the medical cannabis program for the State Health Department.
"Certain applicants will learn from the experience of other applicants and people that are producers but, I don't think that there is a set solution to the problem." Jenison said.
Before approval the Health Department does a walk-through of the facility. After the permit is signed, the checkups don't stop.
"What we will do initially is probably two inspections a year and then increase those depending upon whether or not we feel we are getting the information we need out of that many inspections," Jenison said.
Inspectors will examine the books to make sure no one's making any money on the side.
"We will be checking to make sure there is no diversion of medical cannabis into the illicit marijuana market," Jenison said.
Goodman conceded there's room for abuse as with any business, but he said he's not in it for the money. Instead he just wants to help people, he said.
One of the five licensed growers is in an urban area; the other four are in the middle of nowhere. Their permits are good for one year and can be revoked at any time.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: KRQE News 13
Author: Alex Tomlin
Contact: KRQE News 13
Copyright: 2009 KRQE News 13
Website: Health Dept. Licenses 5 Marijuana Farms
