Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
As you can probably imagine, becoming a producer, and seller, of medical cannabis can get a bit complicated. The most recent licensing requirements released by the New Mexico Department of Health, which runs the state Medical Cannabis Program, are nearly 20,000 words long.
With the recent producer complaints reported by the Santa Fe Reporter, we thought we'd look at how the bureaucracy of medical cannabis in New Mexico works.
First, medical cannabis providers must operate as a nonprofit, and, based on the Department of Health's licensing requirements, must have a board of directors. The board must have at least five members, at least one medical provider, a doctor, nurse or physician's assistant, and at least three patients who qualify for medical cannabis use.
After the board is set up, providers are ready to submit an application, says Erica Rowland, founder of Seven Clover, a new producer in New Mexico. Rowland went through the application process during the most recent request for applications period in 2015. Rowland says producers can only receive a license when the Department of Health sends out requests for applications, and they better have a board and a lot of paperwork ready.
Not to mention the $10,000 application fee Rowland says she paid, $9,000 of which is refundable if the application isn't accepted.
Once a producer has been granted a license, they must get their plant count approved. Based on the Department of Health licensing requirements, producers are only allowed to grow up to 450 plants, and Rowland says her nonprofit started out with 150.
She says the licensure fee for 150 plants was $30,000, and she's planning on paying $60,000 to grow 300 plants in August. The Santa Fe Reporter stated that producers pay $90,000 in fees to grow 450 plants.
"New Mexico has the lowest plant count and the highest fee structure on a per-plant basis in the U.S.," says Duke Rodriguez, president and CEO of Ultra Health, a provider with six dispensary locations in the state. "New Mexico has the most restrictive program in the nation."
He said while other states may charge higher fees, none of them restrict plant count and charge high fees the way New Mexico does.
Producers must get their production and dispensary facilities approved by the Department of Health as well. They can have more than one facility, but all facilities must additional approval.
The Medical Cannabis Program has been seeing growth, with the Department of Health stating on its website that it is looking to hire new staff to meet increased demand for patient identification cards.
In the first quarter of 2016, medical cannabis producers reported about $9.9 million in total receipts.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: How To Become A Medical Cannabis Producer In New Mexico
Author: Marissa Higdon
Contact: Albuquerque Business First
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Albuquerque Business First
With the recent producer complaints reported by the Santa Fe Reporter, we thought we'd look at how the bureaucracy of medical cannabis in New Mexico works.
First, medical cannabis providers must operate as a nonprofit, and, based on the Department of Health's licensing requirements, must have a board of directors. The board must have at least five members, at least one medical provider, a doctor, nurse or physician's assistant, and at least three patients who qualify for medical cannabis use.
After the board is set up, providers are ready to submit an application, says Erica Rowland, founder of Seven Clover, a new producer in New Mexico. Rowland went through the application process during the most recent request for applications period in 2015. Rowland says producers can only receive a license when the Department of Health sends out requests for applications, and they better have a board and a lot of paperwork ready.
Not to mention the $10,000 application fee Rowland says she paid, $9,000 of which is refundable if the application isn't accepted.
Once a producer has been granted a license, they must get their plant count approved. Based on the Department of Health licensing requirements, producers are only allowed to grow up to 450 plants, and Rowland says her nonprofit started out with 150.
She says the licensure fee for 150 plants was $30,000, and she's planning on paying $60,000 to grow 300 plants in August. The Santa Fe Reporter stated that producers pay $90,000 in fees to grow 450 plants.
"New Mexico has the lowest plant count and the highest fee structure on a per-plant basis in the U.S.," says Duke Rodriguez, president and CEO of Ultra Health, a provider with six dispensary locations in the state. "New Mexico has the most restrictive program in the nation."
He said while other states may charge higher fees, none of them restrict plant count and charge high fees the way New Mexico does.
Producers must get their production and dispensary facilities approved by the Department of Health as well. They can have more than one facility, but all facilities must additional approval.
The Medical Cannabis Program has been seeing growth, with the Department of Health stating on its website that it is looking to hire new staff to meet increased demand for patient identification cards.
In the first quarter of 2016, medical cannabis producers reported about $9.9 million in total receipts.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: How To Become A Medical Cannabis Producer In New Mexico
Author: Marissa Higdon
Contact: Albuquerque Business First
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Albuquerque Business First
