Available supply to be difficult as patient purchase limits increase twenty-two times above current rules

(Albuquerque) – Patient enrollment in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program reached 112,183 patients as of March 31, 2021, according to recent data released by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). This represents an increase of 27,015 patients or 32% over March 2020 enrollment. 

The Medical Cannabis Program has seen substantial, double-digit increases in patient enrollment during the last five years, adding more than 90,000 patients since March 2016. Now, the challenge will be to supply the medical program and adult-use program with an adequate supply of cannabis statewide. 

The New Mexico Legislature passed the Cannabis Regulation Act, sponsored by Rep. Javier Martínez, Rep. Andrea Romero, and Rep. Deborah Armstrong, Sen. Katy Duhigg, and Sen. Linda Lopez, on March 31, 2021. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has indicated she will sign the legislation into law.

When the Cannabis Regulation Act becomes effective on June 29, 2021, medical cannabis patients and reciprocal participants will be allowed to purchase up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower, 16 grams of cannabis extract, and 800 milligrams of edible cannabis at any one time. 

Under current rules, enrollees have been limited to merely 8 ounces in total over a 90 day period. 

The new purchase limits will be at least 22 times higher than the current allowed amount. Current producers will need to access significantly more cannabis plants to meet increased demand for current and future patients who will access the higher purchase limits once the legalization legislation becomes effective this summer.

Furthermore, cannabis providers will need ample lead time to cultivate cannabis for both patients and adult-use consumers. The Cannabis Regulation Act mandates that sales to adults must commence before April 1, 2022.

On average, it takes over four months for cannabis plants to mature and for usable cannabis to be harvested, trimmed, cured, tested, packaged, and distributed for purchase at the dispensary.