Medical cannabis denied participation to state tourism program

(Albuquerque) – Ultra Health, a regional medical cannabis leader, has been denied from
becoming an industry partner with the state’s New Mexico True Certified program.

The program brings national attention to the quality, care and craftsmanship behind products that
are uniquely New Mexican. True Certified products must be manufactured in New Mexico.
Plant-­based products must use plants or non-­meat agricultural products originating from New
Mexico with proper traceable documentation.

All of Ultra Health’s medical grade cannabis products sold in New Mexico are produced in the
state and therefore fully meet the criteria to be considered for the program.

Duke Rodriguez, CEO and President of Ultra Health, pointed out that the New Mexico cannabis
industry creates jobs, pays taxes and funds state programs such as the one that is denying Ultra
Health’s participation.

“We are the fastest growing sector in New Mexico’s economy,” Rodriguez said. “The medical
cannabis industry is the most significant opportunity for the state to diversify its economy and
become less reliant on federal government. In comparison, it will create more jobs and more of
an economic impact than two of our other favorite industries such as the chile and craft
microbreweries.”

Despite the Medical Cannabis Program being completely legal in the state of New Mexico,
Aimee Barabe of the tourism department said in an email,“Cannabis is still illegal under federal
law and New Mexico limits consumption for medical purposes only with a prescription.” Barabe
further stated, “The Tourism Department primarily advertises/markets outside of New Mexico,
including the New Mexico True Certified program, and therefore, we cannot accept your
application for participation in the program.”

Ultra Health corrected the tourism department’s misunderstanding of the program, and informed
Barabe patients are not required to have a prescription to purchase medical cannabis. Patients
need only to be approved for a card by the New Mexico Department of Health. Also, it is not
illegal to advertise medical cannabis companies or products. Additionally, the tourism
department does not limit its promotional activities to out of state.

Currently, there are nearly 30,000 New Mexicans with medical cannabis cards. New Mexico
cardholders can legally purchase state approved products in Nevada and soon Hawaii through a
program of reciprocity. New Mexicans without a card can purchase in states that have legalized
the social use of cannabis such as Colorado. Medical cannabis is legal in twenty-­five states and
adult use has been approved in four states and the District of Columbia. Eight states have ballot
issues related to the use of cannabis this November.

The New Mexico medical cannabis industry is estimated to reach more than $45 million in sales
in 2016. In comparison, the New Mexico chile crop was valued at $41.1 million in 2015, and the
New Mexico craft beer industry expects to generate $25 million in sales.

Medical cannabis expects to remit $3.5 million in gross receipt taxes to the New Mexico general
fund in 2016, and the industry will contribute an additional $3 million to the general fund in
licensing fees due on July 29, 2016. These collected taxes and fees are used to fund efforts such
as the New Mexico True Certified program.