By Danny Udero / Silver City Sun-News

Published on August 3, 2016

ltra Health was approved for a business license to operate in Silver City and is waiting for an approval from the Department of Health before it can operate in Silver City.

“They have met all the standards for the town so they were issued a license,” Town of Silver City town manager Alex Brown said. “This was done about a month ago.”

According to Phillip Bryson of the Ultra Health corporate office in Arizona, they applied for a permit to the Department of Health to be legally open in Silver City more than a month ago but have received no response.

“It’s been taking upward of 60 days or more for the state to get back to us on anything,” Bryson said. “Even to approve a patient card. As soon as we get an approval back from the state we will know what’s going on.”

Ultra Health is a medical cannabis company who was just denied participation to the New Mexico True Certification program. The program brings national attention to the quality, care and craftsmanship behind products that are uniquely New Mexican. Syzygy Tile in Silver City was just put on the program. Plant-based products must use plants or non-meat agricultural products originating from New Mexico with proper traceable documentation. According to a news release, Ultra Health claims all medical grade cannabis products sold in New Mexico are produced in the state therefore should fully meet the criteria to be considered for the program.

“We are the fastest growing sector in New Mexico’s economy,” Duke Rodriguez, CEO and President of Ultra Health, 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 chile and craft microbreweries.”

Aimee Barabe of the New Mexico Tourism Department told Ultra Health in an email, “Cannabis is still illegal under federal law and New Mexico limits consumption for medical purposes only with a prescription. The Tourism Department primarily advertises or markets outside of New Mexico, including the New Mexico True Certified program, and therefore, couldn’t accept the application for participation in the program.”

According to Ultra Health, there are nearly 30,000 New Mexico residents with medical cannabis cards. New Mexico cardholders can legally buy state-approved products in Nevada and soon Hawaii through a program of reciprocity. Ultra Health further stated that the New Mexico cannabis industry is estimated to reach more than $45 million in sales in 2016. The expectation in gross receipts to the New Mexico general fund in 2016 is estimated at $3.5 million by Ultra Health. An additional $3 million should also be contributed due to licensing.

Ultra Health has facilities in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.