New poll indicates more than 255,000 New Mexicans “likely” to join cannabis program

(Albuquerque) – Patient enrollment in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program reached 52,260 as of April 30, 2018, a gain of nearly 6,000 patients since the beginning of the year.

Enrollment is increasing at an annualized rate of 36 percent and is estimated to reach 65,000 patients by the end of 2018.

The accelerated pace of medical cannabis enrollees is showing no signs of slowing down, as 16 percent of adults in New Mexico said they were likely to apply for a medical cannabis card in the next two years, as part of a broader poll on legalization conducted by Research & Polling Inc., set to release later this month.

 

Roughly 1.6 million adults live in New Mexico as of July 1, 2017, and thus 16 percent of adults   equates to an additional 255,245 cardholders by 2020, given their survey response to “likelihood of applying to the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program in the next two years.” These numbers do not include those patients who already have a medical cannabis card.

Although many people claim they are likely to take part in a certain program or activity, fewer actually do so for various reasons, which is typical in survey research.

Even if only half of those who said they were likely to get a medical cannabis card do enroll, the program could triple its membership over the next two years or by the next general election in November 2020.
“Medical cannabis has moved far beyond the anecdotes and clearly into the mainstream of what New Mexicans are demanding,” said Duke Rodriguez, CEO and President of Ultra Health®. “The need is real and it is incumbent we have a patient-centric approach to cannabis which favors access over prohibition.”