Lack of outreach has caused dismal patient enrollment for new qualifying conditions

(Albuquerque) – Patient enrollment in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program reached 76,032 patients as of July 31, 2019, according to data released by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). These numbers represent a 31% increase over enrollment in July of 2018.

Conditions such as PTSD, chronic pain, and cancer have continued to drive the overall program growth rate by 31%.  However, a lack of outreach and education has led to dismal patient participation for the new qualifying conditions.

NMDOH added opioid use disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Friedrech’s Ataxia, Lewy Body Disease, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy as new qualifying conditions in June, per the recommendation from the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board. Since then, only 25 people have qualified under the new conditions collectively. To date, NMDOH has not initiated any outreach or education to inform the public that medical cannabis may now be used as a treatment for the new conditions

“Our mission is to promote health and wellness, improve health outcomes, and assure safety net services for all people in New Mexico,” NMDOH’s website states. However, while NMDOH has promoted public health for other initiatives such as immunizations and heat stress, the department continues to fall behind in actively promoting medical cannabis use as an alternative to other medications for people with debilitating conditions.  

“Approving new qualifying conditions for medical cannabis is always a great step in the right direction,” said Duke Rodriguez, CEO and President of Ultra Health®. “However, it is imperative that the department follow through with this initiative and fully inform the public on how medical cannabis can help improve their lives. We hope that NMDOH begins fostering a more beneficial, healthcare centric approach to medical cannabis care.”

###

Ultra Health is New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company and the largest vertically integrated medical cannabis provider in the United States. The provider currently operates 17 dispensary locations statewide, with another 13 stores slated to open by year end. Ultra Health provides unparalleled medical cannabis care by producing accurately dosed, smokeless cannabis products such as sublingual tablets, oils, pastilles, suppositories and more through its partnership with Israeli pharmaceutical group Panaxia. Ultra Health has been on the forefront of patient-rights issues and continues to fight for adequate supply and rural access in the New Mexico medical cannabis market.