Growth of Personal Production Licenses in urban areas significantly outpaces total enrollment

(Albuquerque) – Patient enrollment in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program reached 70,109 patients as of February 28, 2019, according to data released by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH).

While patient enrollment has seen a dramatic increase over the last year of 44%, access to dispensaries in rural areas has also grown. Today, 95% of enrolled patients in the program have at least one dispensary in their county, and 87% of all cardholders have access to more than one dispensary.

Continue reading “New Mexico Cannabis Patient Enrollment Suprasses Record 70,000 Members”

180-day rulemaking process initiated to determine final amount to ensure an adequate supply

(Albuquerque) – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) filed an emergency rule on March 1, 2019, temporarily raising the medical cannabis plant count limit to 2,500 plants per producer. The temporary limit will expire in 180 days on August 28, 2019.

History was made as the leadership exercised by the Governor’s office marked the most significant collaboration between the State and the cannabis industry on behalf of New Mexico’s 70,000 patients. Continuous cooperation will determine a proper regulation that will provide an adequate supply for current and future medical cannabis patients statewide.

Continue reading “New Mexico Enacts Emergency Rule Raising Cannabis Plant Count To 2,500”

Patients choose Ultra Health by 6 to 1; Industry hampered by regulatory hurdles

(Albuquerque) – Combined patient sales from the 35 licensed producers in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program totaled $106 million in 2018, an increase of $19.6 million or 23 percent over reported annual revenue in 2017.

Patient enrollment grew by 45 percent over the same period, from 46,645 patients as of December 31, 2017, to 67,574 patients as of December 31, 2018, according to data from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH).

The enrollment gain in 2018 grew at nearly twice the pace of patient sales, resulting in the lowest available plant per patient ratio in the program’s history of less than ¼ plant per patient. This trend confirms the plant count limit, coupled with regulatory hurdles, are directly responsible for the lack of an adequate supply statewide.

Patient access restrictions in the program include scant purchase limits, potency caps, failure to honor reciprocity with other states and the prohibition on producers to provide savings to patients for volume purchases. All of these factors, along with a restrictive plant count, contribute to a  low program utilization compared to the region, inflated prices for patients, and increased black market marijuana activity.

Continue reading “New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program Finishes 2018 With $106 Million in Sales”

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.”

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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”