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Medical patients in New Mexico who suffer from Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disorder will now be able to treat their symptoms with medical cannabis. Department of Health spokesman Kenny Vigil told SFR this afternoon that Health Secretary Retta Ward has approved two petitions that were referred to her by the department's Medical Cannabis Advisory Board in November. A third petition to allow marijuana use for Traumatic Brain Injuries was rejected by Ward earlier today. Parkinson and Huntington patients will have to have their diagnosis confirmed and be referred to the program before their applications are certified. Once they are legally allowed access, patients will face challenges finding ample marijuana supplies. More than three months after a patient survey revealed chronic shortages of medical marijuana here, licensed patients across the state continue to struggle to find safe and legal access to their medication.
A fourth quarter producers' report prepared by the New Mexico Department of Health in February and obtained by SFR earlier this week shows New Mexico's 23 non-profit producers only harvested a little more than 27,000 pounds, or 13.5 tons, for 10,647 active patients. In order to provide each patient three ounces, or 84 grams, of marijuana every quarter, growers claim they need to package close to 56,250 pounds or 28 tons. But health officials say the number is less, because a third of the patients are licensed to grow their own medication.
Producers like Willie Ford, of R. Greenleaf Organics, had wanted Ward and Medical Cannabis Program managers to change rthe egulations and allow producers to double the number of mature plants they may grow at one time. That number is currently capped at 150. Ford says he could meet demand and lower his prices if the Department of Health allowed him to grow between 300 and 500 plants. Just after 4 p.m. this afternoon, the Department of Health announced it will make two adjustments to its medical cannabis program, but the proposed changes have left some current producers and market analysts baffled. The proposed rule change will keep mature plants capped at 150 plants, but would double the number of seedlings from 150 to 300.
The rule changes will require a period for public comment before it is implemented. The Department of Health will plans to consider adding up to 12 additional producers around the state, but the application period will not begin until the other rules changes are finalized. Ford isn't happy with the options offered by Ward today. "I am profoundly saddened by the callous indifference of the current administration, not only in their shortcomings in dealing with the serious medical needs of a large health-challenged population but also in their apparent ease of ignoring the legal rights of our citizens," says Ford. "Gov. Susanna Martinez's appointees seem to have no problem neglecting the needs of the seriously ill and obviously feel that their opinions and political leanings trump the will of the people of the State of New Mexico."
Before the rule changes were announced this afternoon, not everyone agreed with Ford about simply increasing plant counts. Medical Marijuana Radio Host Larry Love wanted to the department to open up the license application process to new producers. "There's been a shortage for the last five years," say Love, adding "It's time for some new blood." He points to 4th Quarter Production Report that shows two licensed producers harvested less than 6,000 grams of medical marijuana for the last three months of 2013. "We need to find and license people who are willing to produce medicine for patients," say Love.
Other program stakeholders agree with Love and they've seem to have convinced Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward to move forward with processing a dozen new producers to serve patients in New Mexico. Neither Ward, nor Gov. Susana Martinez have addressed the shortages publicly. But, State Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Bernalillo, who wants voters to eventually decide the issue of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, has said the best option to fix the shortage would be both allowing current producers to grow more mature plants and authorizing new producers. Today's decision could boost cannabis yields and boost sales tax revenue collected by the state.
While Colorado collected over $1.2 million in taxes from legalized marijuana sales in January and estimates it will haul in up to $100 million in taxes this year, New Mexico collected just $297,500 in taxes on $4.4 million in sales from October to December 2013. The Dec. 31 report shows patients, on average, purchased 22 grams in the final three months of 2013. That could because of cost barriers, shortages, or other lack of access in some rural parts of the state. Bernalillo and Santa Fe County, with 53 percent, continue to have the largest number of active patients. Harding County only has one active patient. The Medical Adivisory Board will meet again in April and could consider additional medical conditions for the program. As of Friday, Vigil says no patients have submitted a petition for the panel to review.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Sfreporter.com
Author: Peter St. Cyr
Contact: Contact Us
Website: Chronic medical cannabis shortage persists in New Mexico
A fourth quarter producers' report prepared by the New Mexico Department of Health in February and obtained by SFR earlier this week shows New Mexico's 23 non-profit producers only harvested a little more than 27,000 pounds, or 13.5 tons, for 10,647 active patients. In order to provide each patient three ounces, or 84 grams, of marijuana every quarter, growers claim they need to package close to 56,250 pounds or 28 tons. But health officials say the number is less, because a third of the patients are licensed to grow their own medication.
Producers like Willie Ford, of R. Greenleaf Organics, had wanted Ward and Medical Cannabis Program managers to change rthe egulations and allow producers to double the number of mature plants they may grow at one time. That number is currently capped at 150. Ford says he could meet demand and lower his prices if the Department of Health allowed him to grow between 300 and 500 plants. Just after 4 p.m. this afternoon, the Department of Health announced it will make two adjustments to its medical cannabis program, but the proposed changes have left some current producers and market analysts baffled. The proposed rule change will keep mature plants capped at 150 plants, but would double the number of seedlings from 150 to 300.
The rule changes will require a period for public comment before it is implemented. The Department of Health will plans to consider adding up to 12 additional producers around the state, but the application period will not begin until the other rules changes are finalized. Ford isn't happy with the options offered by Ward today. "I am profoundly saddened by the callous indifference of the current administration, not only in their shortcomings in dealing with the serious medical needs of a large health-challenged population but also in their apparent ease of ignoring the legal rights of our citizens," says Ford. "Gov. Susanna Martinez's appointees seem to have no problem neglecting the needs of the seriously ill and obviously feel that their opinions and political leanings trump the will of the people of the State of New Mexico."
Before the rule changes were announced this afternoon, not everyone agreed with Ford about simply increasing plant counts. Medical Marijuana Radio Host Larry Love wanted to the department to open up the license application process to new producers. "There's been a shortage for the last five years," say Love, adding "It's time for some new blood." He points to 4th Quarter Production Report that shows two licensed producers harvested less than 6,000 grams of medical marijuana for the last three months of 2013. "We need to find and license people who are willing to produce medicine for patients," say Love.
Other program stakeholders agree with Love and they've seem to have convinced Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward to move forward with processing a dozen new producers to serve patients in New Mexico. Neither Ward, nor Gov. Susana Martinez have addressed the shortages publicly. But, State Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Bernalillo, who wants voters to eventually decide the issue of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, has said the best option to fix the shortage would be both allowing current producers to grow more mature plants and authorizing new producers. Today's decision could boost cannabis yields and boost sales tax revenue collected by the state.
While Colorado collected over $1.2 million in taxes from legalized marijuana sales in January and estimates it will haul in up to $100 million in taxes this year, New Mexico collected just $297,500 in taxes on $4.4 million in sales from October to December 2013. The Dec. 31 report shows patients, on average, purchased 22 grams in the final three months of 2013. That could because of cost barriers, shortages, or other lack of access in some rural parts of the state. Bernalillo and Santa Fe County, with 53 percent, continue to have the largest number of active patients. Harding County only has one active patient. The Medical Adivisory Board will meet again in April and could consider additional medical conditions for the program. As of Friday, Vigil says no patients have submitted a petition for the panel to review.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Sfreporter.com
Author: Peter St. Cyr
Contact: Contact Us
Website: Chronic medical cannabis shortage persists in New Mexico
