Opponents of the medicinal use of cannabis have long warned of “unintended consequences” of legalizing whole plant cannabis medicine.
So in that regard, let’s take a look at how the (medical-only) program in another of Utah’s own neighbors, New Mexico, is fairing (the two states just touch at the Four Corners)…
This article reveals a program which is running smoothly…with both strong public uptake, and a state regulatory structure which is run in an efficient, non-foot-dragging, patient-friendly manner…
…a program with a larger conditions list, broader physician recommending authority, larger amounts of medicine allowed…i.e., a program more expansive than the one outlined in the Utah initiative…
Excerpts [more facts and figures in the article, and please note that NM’s population is about 2/3 the size of UT’s for comparison]….
“The number of registered medical marijuana patients in NM increased by more than 56% compared to last year.
According to NM Dep’t of Health, 50,954 patients were registered, compared to 32,175 last year. There were also 6,847 Active Personal Production Licenses in the state.
Currently, there are 21 qualifying conditions. One that may soon be added is opiate use disorder).
Patients may purchase up to around the equivalent of 8 ounces of dry product in 90 days and possess the same amount at any given time. With special permission, patients may also grow at home.
35 Licensed Non-profit Producers grow and distribute medicine to qualified patients via the 68 dispensaries operating in 19 counties. LNPPs are required to test products before sale to patients via approved laboratories.
At the end of 2017, there were also 12 approved manufacturers.
Any New Mexico practitioner with prescribing authority can sign a certification for a patient with a qualifying condition, assuming there is an established provider/patient relationship.
[The state] receives between 150 and 600 patient applications every day. Even with that volume, it seems most are attended to in a timely manner, with [the program] approving 90 percent of completed patient applications within 30 days.
The patient application form was recently reduced from four pages to two and can now be completed electronically; then printed for signing.”
In other words, in terms of MC, NM is a state which has “gotten with the program,” rather than standing as a hostile barrier between doctors, patients, and safe, legal access.
Sounds pretty enchanting (and encouraging) to us…!
See https://ift.tt/2IJilfD for official state program information.
#MMJ #UTpol #NMpol #ItJustWorks #UtahNext #TRUCE
See full article – New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program Going Gangbusters
