Medical program participation rapidly approaching 65,000 qualified New Mexicans

(Albuquerque) – The number of patients certified for the medicinal use of cannabis in New Mexico reached 58,211 as of July 31, 2018, according to data released by the New Mexico Department of Health. The one month gain of 3,354 patients represents the single-biggest month of patient enrollment since April of 2017.

Patient participation in the Medical Cannabis Program for July 2018 is up by 28 percent from July 2017. The ten fastest growing counties over the same period with at least 500 cardholders include:

 

1. Grant 93%
2. Otero 80%
3. Curry 61%
4. Sandoval 55%
5. Doña Ana 53%
6. Cibola 52%
7. Santa Fe 51%
8. Bernalillo 44%
9. Valencia 39%
10. Lea 39%

The year’s rapid enrollment trends in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program are unsurprising, as 10 percent of New Mexicans recently surveyed said they were “very likely” and another 6 percent said they were “somewhat likely” to apply for a medical cannabis card in the next two years, according to a May 2018 survey.

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 potential cardholders by 2020, given their survey response to “the 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.

The program’s accelerated enrollment trends are expected to surpass 65,000 patients by the end of the year.