Enrollment increases expected to continue amid substantial program changes

(Albuquerque) – Participation in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program reached another milestone last month, reaching 74,100 patients by June 30, 2019. These enrollment figures represent a 35% increase over patient enrollment in June 2018, according to data released by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). 

The program has experienced monumental, year-over-year growth for the last three years. While patient enrollment is likely to continue its upward trend due to expanded eligibility and patient retention initiatives, available medicine statewide continues to fall behind patient demand. The shortage will likely be exacerbated as the industry begins to bolster under new program changes. 

In the last Legislative session, lawmakers removed the residency requirement for qualified patients in the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act (LECUA). The Act also added language for allowing patients from other medical cannabis states to purchase medicine while in New Mexico and lengthened the lifetime of medical cannabis patient registry cards from one to three years. 

In addition, NMDOH added new qualifying conditions to the program in June including opioid use disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Friedrech’s Ataxia, Lewy Body Disease, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  

Furthermore, the updated Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act includes several provisions that normalize medical cannabis and establish it as the equivalent to any other medication. These include workplace protections for medical cannabis patients, the ability for children to be administered medical cannabis on school grounds, patient eligibility for anatomical gifting, and access to medical cannabis for those who are under supervision or in custody of a state or local government.

All of these program changes will lead to an unprecedented demand for medical cannabis statewide. Currently, NMDOH is engaged in a rulemaking process concerning plant count, LECUA changes, and other regulatory issues. Changes are being proposed to 7.34.2 NMAC, 7.34.3 NMAC, and 7.34.4 NMAC. The first public hearing over the proposed rules was held July 12, 2019. The report covering the public hearing is expected to be released on August 1, 2019.