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”