First-of-its-kind Federal Court ruling affirms medical cannabis speech cannot be restrained

(Albuquerque) – For the first time in history, a Federal Court order has recognized the First Amendment protections guaranteed to producers of medical cannabis.

The 37-page ruling comes after Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company, filed a complaint against New Mexico State Fair officials for unconstitutional attempts to limit Ultra Health’s rights to display a cannabis educational booth at the 2017 State Fair.

“Judge Parker’s decision will be heard throughout the country. We now have a Federal Court decision upholding licensed medical cannabis producers’ fundamental rights, including the rights protected by the First Amendment,” said Brian Egolf, partner in Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC. “Licensed medical cannabis producers now know that their work serving patients is protected under the law and the United States Constitution.”

Continue reading “Federal Judge Recognizes Free Speech for Cannabis Producer”

Ultra Health gains two licenses to cultivate low-THC varieties of cannabis

(Albuquerque) – Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company with a nationwide presence, has expanded its operations to include the cultivation and production of hemp biomass.

The provider, which has been awarded Continuous Hemp Production Licenses (CHPL) by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to grow hemp in both Bernalillo and Tularosa, New Mexico, will initially be dedicating a total of 872,000 square feet to hemp cultivation. The Tularosa campus will be a premier hub for cannabis commerce, where all parts of the cannabis plant will be processed into refined products such as therapeutic oils, fibers, and feed.

Nationally, President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill Thursday, which permanently removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. The bill altered the language of a major drug law which had not been changed for 50 years.

Continue reading “President Signs Farm Bill, Hemp Legalization To Impact New Mexico”

Participation trends align with recent survey answer on interest in Medical Cannabis Program

(Albuquerque) – Nearly 67,000 patients have enrolled in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program, according to data released by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). A record increase of over 21,000 new enrollees since November 30, 2017.

November’s 2018 single-month jump of 3,836 new enrollees was the largest single-month gain in over 20 months, or since April 2017.

While the overall program is experiencing a 47% year-over-year increase in patient participation, many rural counties in New Mexico are outpacing the overall growth with participation growth rates surpassing 100 percent for the same period.

Continue reading “New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program Up 47% to Record 66,725 Enrollees”

Ultra Health is the first cannabis provider to win a lawsuit over production regulations

(Santa Fe) – Nicole Sena, a medical cannabis caregiver to her infant daughter with a rare form of epilepsy, and Ultra Health prevailed in the lawsuit they jointly filed against the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) to secure an adequate supply of medical cannabis.

This is the first time any medical cannabis provider in the United States has successfully sued the state on overly restrictive production regulations.

“This is a victory for my daughter and all New Mexicans,” Nicole Sena said. “I think this will make a huge impact on our cannabis program because not all patients use the same products and they will be able to choose what is right for them now that producers will be able to have more plants.”

Continue reading “New Mexico Provider Wins Favorable Ruling in Plant Count Lawsuit”

Ultra Health is the state’s preferred patient-provider by 5 to 1, leading nearest competitor by 70%

(Albuquerque) – Revenues for New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program topped $77.7 million for the first nine months of the year, with 58,782 patients enrolled in the program as of September 30, 2018, according to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH).

The patient sales during the first nine months of 2018 represent a 25 percent increase over the same period during 2017, while patient enrollment increased by 20 percent. The growth shows patients are increasingly utilizing the program as it continues to mature.  

Continue reading “New Mexico Medical Cannabis Industry Revenues Up 25% Over Last Year”

New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company begins building state-of-the-art location in Union County

(Albuquerque) – Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company, will break ground on the state’s first custom build-to-suit cannabis dispensary today in Clayton, New Mexico.

The dispensary, located off US-87 in the most heavily trafficked area in Northeastern New Mexico, is estimated to bring in millions in revenue once the state legalizes cannabis for social use. Much of the estimated revenue is expected to come from out-of-state tourism due to Union County bordering Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.

The new 2,680-foot Ultra Health dispensary will open in January 2019, expanding Ultra Health’s footprint to 13 counties statewide.

Continue reading “Ultra Health Breaks Ground on Dispensary In Clayton, New Mexico”

Margin of nearly 2 to 1, reliable New Mexican voters support legalization of cannabis

(Albuquerque) – A majority of proven voters in New Mexico support a bill to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis sales for adults 21 and over, according to a new poll from the Albuquerque Journal.

Altogether, 60 percent of proven voters support cannabis legalization, 32 percent are opposed, and 8 percent either didn’t know or would not say if they are supportive. The poll, conducted by Research & Polling Inc., was based on a sample of 423 registered New Mexico voters who participated in the 2014 and 2016 general elections and indicated they would participate in the upcoming election.

Continue reading “New Poll Shows 60% of New Mexico Voters Back Cannabis legalization”

Department of Health releases approved cannabis cultivation plant count through July 31, 2019

(Albuquerque) – On August 1, 2018, the 35 commercial producers in New Mexico licensed a total of 14,700 plants for medical cannabis cultivation, representing a mere 7 percent increase in plants allowed since August 1, 2016. During the same two-year period, the number of patients in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program has doubled.

The program’s increase of only 7 percent in plants allowed for medical cannabis cultivation is concerning, as enrollment and patient demand in the program continue to grow at an accelerated pace.

Continue reading “New Mexico Cannabis Plants Still Restricted Despite Program Doubling In Size”