Judge signs Writ of Mandamus to keep medical cannabis reciprocity program in accordance with the law

(Santa Fe) – Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company, successfully filed a Writ of Mandamus against the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) asking the court to rescind an NMDOH mandate that added additional requirements for reciprocal patients to participate in the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program. 

Santa Fe District Court Judge Matthew Wilson prepared the Writ and signed it on October 13, 2020, invalidating the NMDOH mandate and Emergency Rule that attempted to disallow qualified reciprocal participants from accessing New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program.

“Neither the Legislature, by statute, nor the DOH, by rule, required that a reciprocal participant’s government-issued identification and medical cannabis proof of authorization be issued by the jurisdiction where the participant lives, or that the reciprocal participant must produce a medical cannabis card as the only acceptable proof of authorization in order to obtain reciprocal admission into the New Mexico medical cannabis program,” Judge Wilson wrote in the Writ.

Continue reading “New Mexico Judge Orders State Agency to Enroll Reciprocity Patients”

Adequate supply for patients in danger as regulators continue to thwart patient access, available medicine

(Albuquerque) – New Mexico’s medical cannabis patients are at risk of running out of medicine due to the effects of COVID-19 and statewide shutdowns, according to a recent report published by O’Donnell Economics. Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company, has felt the effects of COVID-19 with unprecedented demand and patient sales since March 2020.

“The pandemic substantially increased demand for medical cannabis in New Mexico, worsening the state’s medical cannabis shortage, driving up price, and negatively impacting patients,” the report, produced by Kelly O’Donnell of O’Donnell Economics, stated. 

The medical cannabis shortage highlights a significant deficiency in New Mexico’s public health infrastructure.

Continue reading “COVID-19 CREATES SURGE IN DEMAND FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS IN N.M., SHORTAGES AHEAD”

N.M. BEGINS RECIPROCITY FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENTS OUTSIDE NEW MEXICO

Legislative initiative to allow patients from other areas to participate in New Mexico’s program takes effect

(Albuquerque) – New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program will officially begin allowing medical cannabis patients from out-of-state to possess and purchase medical cannabis while in New Mexico. Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company, will be providing medical cannabis for reciprocal participants on July 1, 2020. 

Patients with proof of authorization from a medical cannabis program outside New Mexico, also known as reciprocal participants, may begin purchasing medical cannabis from New Mexico dispensaries on July 1, 2020, without paying any additional fee. Reciprocal participants may purchase and possess up to 230 units or 8 ounces of cannabis in a 90-day period. 

Continue reading “New Mexico Begins Reciprocity for Medical Cannabis Patients Outside New Mexico”

Regional analysis shows programmatic inefficiencies, N.M. patients face higher prices due to plant cap

(Albuquerque) – Combined patient sales from the 34 licensed producers in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program totaled $40.1 million for the first quarter of 2020, an increase of $12 million or 43% over reported patient sales in the first quarter of 2019. Ultra Health topped all producers with $6.1 million in patient sales for the first quarter.

New Mexico’s top 10 cannabis providers accounted for 71% of total patient sales. 

The program enrolled 85,168 patients as of March 31, 2020, an increase of 20% over March 2019 enrollment. A total of 6,128 pounds of cannabis flower was sold to patients during the first three months of the year, representing an increase of 30% over total pounds sold in the first quarter of 2019. 

Continue reading “New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program sees record pace in first quarter of 2020”

Programmatic changes needed to allow New Mexican patients similar access as Colorado patients

(Albuquerque) – Patient enrollment in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program reached 85,168 patients, according to recent data released by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). This represents an increase of 20% over March 2019 enrollment. 

New Mexico’s medical program is outpacing neighboring Colorado’s medical program, which enrolled 81,722 patients as of March 31, 2020. 

Continue reading “New Mexico Medical Cannabis Enrollment Continues to Outpace Colorado Program”

Patient enrollments are now comparable yet substantial differences in plant count and patient access remain

(Albuquerque) – For the first time since New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program was enacted, patient enrollment in the state has outpaced neighboring Colorado’s patient participation. 

Patient enrollment in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program officially reached 82,147 patients, according to recent data released by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). Enrollment in Colorado’s medical cannabis program reached 81,893 as of February 29, 2020.  Continue reading “New Mexico Medical Cannabis Enrollment Exceeds Colorado For the First Time”

Historical export and import of low-THC, high-CBD medicine marks beginning of global trade relationship

(Albuquerque) –  Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company with a nationwide presence, successfully exported low-THC, high-CBD cannabis medicine to Israel last week through its strategic partnership with Israeli pharmaceutical group Panaxia. Ultra Health is the first-ever commercial United States cannabis company to export cannabis extracts to Israel.

The high-CBD medicine was created from extracting New Mexico-produced hemp in Bernalillo, New Mexico after Ultra Health and Panaxia US received hemp extraction and manufacturing permits from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). Ultra Health is also a recipient of two continuous hemp commercial research production licenses from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

After being successfully imported into Israel via a permit from the Israel Ministry of Health, Panaxia plans to make the high-CBD medicines available to patients suffering from epilepsy or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), many of whom are children. The first suite of products will include sublingual tablets, oral tablets, and sublingual drops, with future expansion plans to include inhalable products, ointments, and creams.

Upon the successful import of the high-CBD medicines to Israel, Ultra Health agreed to purchase another 1,000 pounds of New Mexico-produced hemp to begin expanding further production and export.

“We are pleased to be able to extend care to our patients in Israeli who are in acute need of this kind of medicinal cannabis care,” said Dr. Dadi Segal, Panaxia CEO. “Panaxia’s superb R&D capabilities combined with the added value of a high-quality strategic company such as Ultra Health prove themselves time and again, especially with regard to the high quality of the products and stringent regulatory compliance.”

“We are grateful to the New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, who had a key role in making all of this happen,” said Duke Rodriguez, CEO, and President of Ultra Health®. “I look forward to the continued success of the Ultra Health and Panaxia partnership that has proven to greatly enhance both entities’ abilities to innovate the cannabis industry on a global scale.”

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About Ultra Health: 

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 20 dispensary locations statewide, with another 10 stores slated to open by the second quarter of 2020. 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 at the forefront of patient-rights issues and continues to fight for adequate supply and rural access in the New Mexico medical cannabis market. 

About Panaxia: 

Panaxia is currently the largest Israeli manufacturer and home-delivery distributor of medical cannabis products in Israel, and the first to have received the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Health for the manufacture of medical cannabis-based drugs (under the IMC-GMP directive). Panaxia is part of the Segal Pharma Group, founded over forty years ago and owned by the Segal family. The company manufactures over 600 different pharmaceutical products distributed in over forty countries worldwide. Panaxia US manufactures over 60 medical hemp and cannabis-based products in North America, including sublingual tablets, oral tablets, oils, and inhalers aimed for the treatment of conditions such as PTSD, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, anorexia, burns, and many other ailments. Panaxia has over 150 employees, and all of the clinical trials are led by group employees. The Segal Pharma Group additionally owns Luminera Derm, manufacturer of injectable dermal fillers, and Tree of Life Pharma, manufacturer of over-the-counter drugs. For more information, visit the Panaxia website at: https://panaxia.co.il/

Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company, successfully opens nine locations in 12-month period

(Albuquerque) – Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company with an international presence, opened its 20th New Mexico dispensary location today in Albuquerque’s Southeast Heights neighborhood. 

Continue reading “New Mexico Medical Cannabis Provider Opens 20th Dispensary Location.”