New Mexico: Guidelines For State Medical Marijuana Program Finalized

Albuquerque, NM:  The New Mexico Department of Health has finalized rules
governing the production, distribution, and use of medicinal cannabis under
state law.

The new guidelines specify that state qualified patients may possess up to
six ounces of medical cannabis (or more if authorized by their physician)
and/or 16 plants (four mature, 12 immature) in accordance with state law.

To qualify under the law, patients must be registered with the state
Department of Health and be must diagnosed by a physician to be suffering
from one of the following medical conditions: cancer, glaucoma, multiple
sclerosis, epilepsy, spinal cord damage, or HIV/AIDS.  Any patient in
hospice care may also qualify to use medicinal marijuana under state law.

Additional qualifying conditions, including nerve pain, Hepatitis C, and
post-traumatic stress syndrome, are awaiting final approval by Department of
Health.

State regulations also authorize non-profit facilities to apply with the
state to produce and dispense medical cannabis.  State licensed producers
may grow up to 95 mature plants at one time.  The guidelines stipulate, ³The
non-profit will sell medical cannabis at a consistent unit price and without
volume discounts.²

To date, no organizations have applied with the state government to
cultivate marijuana.

New Mexico lawmakers approved the use of marijuana under a physician¹s
supervision in 2007.  More than 200 patients have since registered with the
state Health Department to possess cannabis under state law.

Application information for patients and nonprofit providers is available
from the New Mexico Department of Health at:
http://www.health.state.nm.us/marijuana.html.

Best,
--
Paul Armentano
Deputy Director
NORML | NORML Foundation
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"What politicians call 'youthful indiscretions' should not become
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