New Mexico cannabis program open to nonresidents, Texans begin applying for cannabis care

(El Paso) – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has begun issuing three-year medical cannabis cards to nonresidents, a majority of which are from Texas. New Mexico is the only state that allows nonresidents to participate in its Medical Cannabis Program, marking the first time a state has recognized the need for continuity and portability for medical cannabis care.

Prospective patients must be seen by a New Mexico practitioner and certified as having one of the state’s 28 qualifying conditions. There is no fee to the state to receive a three-year card, and cards are mailed to qualified patients within 30 days of the submission of the application.

Continue reading “El Paso NORML Director Among First Texans To Get New Mexico Cannabis Card”

Nonresident enrollment expected to surpass tens of thousands of patients over the next year

(Albuquerque) – Patient enrollment in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program reached 77,168 patients as of September 30, 2019, according to data released by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). September’s numbers represent a 31% increase over enrollment in September 2018.

The newest addition to the patient statistics report is an “Out of State” category, in which 12 patients are listed. The issuance of three-year patient registry cards to out-of-state participants comes after Santa Fe District Court Judge Bryan Biedschied ordered NMDOH to comply with the new statutory language and accept nonresident patients into the program.

The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program is the first medical cannabis program in the country to allow nonresidents to receive three-year cards and purchase medical cannabis while in the state.

Continue reading “First dozen out-of-state patients accepted into New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program”

Collected fees increase by 30%, while one-third of total plants go unsubscribed due to higher fees 

(Albuquerque) – The 34 licensed cannabis producers in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program paid $3.8 million in plant fees to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) for the 2019-2020 period by October 4, 2019. This represents an increase of 30% from the fees collected during the 2018-2019 period, even with one less licensed cannabis producer. 

Of the total 59,500 plants available under the newly promulgated 1,750 plant cap per producer, 20,000 plants went unsubscribed due to the substantial fee increase to grow the maximum number of plants. 

Compared to last year’s fee schedule, 18 producers saw plant fee increases of up to 100%. These top producers were responsible for $1.3 million of additional plant fees collected compared to the 2018-2019 period, when total cannabis producer fees totaled $2.9 million.  Continue reading “New Mexico Cannabis Producers Pay $3.8 million in Plant Fees by Deadline”