State gives nod to medical marijuana dealers

[WhiteTara]

Source: kob.com

New Mexico has become the first state in the country to license marijuana dealers. Officials say dealers are under stringent regulations.

It took about a year and half, but the New Mexico Health Department has ironed out a plan to deal with the complex and legally thorny issue of how to make and get medical marijuana to qualified patients.

"This has been the hardest piece of the program. We really needed to proceed carefully and thoughtfully because we're the only state to take this step," said Deborah Busemeyer of the Department of Health.

New Mexico is the first state to license non-profit organizations to do the growing and distribution. Any group that wants to do it will have to clear a lot of hurdles, Busemeyer said.

"They need to have security measures. We have monitoring requirements they have to have a non profit board overseeing it that includes a doctor," she said.

Any non-profit that gets a license will be able to grow up to 95 plants and keep a supply of useable marijuana. Individuals can also grow their own if they get a state license. They can grow four mature plants and 12 seedlings and posses up to six ounces.

Read more: http://kob.com/article/stories/S737607.shtml?cat=500

---

wow. statewide. great news. now we just need to get the federal government up to speed.

[tekisui]

1. KNR!

[ZombieHorde]

2. K&R

[msedano]

3. Nuevo Mexico, ¡ajua!

What was Bill Richardson's role in this, if any?

Unidentified GI in Korea:

[Froward69]

4. 6 Oz !!!

I am moving south...
6oz holy shit are you kidding me 6oz!!!!

B-) :7 :hippie: :hippie: :hippie: :fistbump: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[Royal Sloan 09]

5. K & R eom

[Fozzledick]

6. Obama has said he won't prosecute state-licensed medical users

It remains to be seen how this will play out, but it's looking good :smoke:

[CrazyLate]

14. Hopefully he will begin a general roll back

of the war on some drugs.

Our appetite for drugs and our same-time insistence on making them illegal is directly responsible for turning Colombia, Afghanistan, and Mexico into drug war hell holes.

[MessiahRp]

54. Here's hoping his AG pick follows suit...

although Holder has a dicey background in his attempts to ramp up the drug war.

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/11/18/21472/416

Rp

[Zhade]

71. As a patient (glaucoma), this is one of my lines in the sand.

If he betrays us on this, I'll have nothing further to do with him.

[Corey_Baker08]

7. K&R For This Landmark Decision.....All States should follow!

[Locut0s]

8. Don't know much about state pot laws (in Canada) but someone told me that Alaska....

has had decriminalization of possession of small amounts, seeds and some plants for a while now. I'm sure the laws are stricter than what I mention that's just what I remember. Am I wrong?

[High Plains]

56. Possession of small amounts in one's home is completely legal in Alaska.

Thanks to the Alaska Supreme Court, which found rights in its state constitution that are apparently greater than those in the US or other state constitutions.

[FatDave]

60. Is that still the case?

I know it was a few years back, but thought I'd heard they'd re-criminalized it. I could well be wrong though.

[reggie the dog]

69. the voters

passed a ballot iniciative which recriminalized cannabis but that did not matter as the law is unconstitutional at the state level. You can grow, have, and use your own cannabis in Alaska.

[Oldenuff]

9. That is great news for NM!

I'd be curious however,to know just what an oz. of mmj will cost.It's also interesting that the plant limit for a non-profit is 95 plants.5 short of the 100 plant number that the Federales seem to use as a guideline for "persecution".

[toadzilla]

10. soooo its ok to force medical marijuana dealers to be non-profit?

however its still ok for the pharmaceutical industry to rake in record profits?

[defendandprotect]

13. ...because Drug companies BOUGHT their slice of government/legislators ---

[CrazyLate]

16. Incrementalism is the name of the game

One step at a time.

[yodoobo]

11. Nice. We'll win this one state at a time

Eventually, the feds will look around and realize that its banned nowhere except federal property and then maybe it'll be discarded as an outdated obsolete law.

[defendandprotect]

12. Good Newa -- Thanks for sanity , New Mexico...!!

"War Is A Racket-!!" and "The Drug War Is A Rscket-!"

We now have more people locked up than China --

at minimum $50,000 per year ... to teach them what in our jails...???

Innsane!!

[cliffordu]

15. K&R!!!!

[time_has_come]

17. This is like, totally like, like, I mean, wicked. Man

:)

[Technowitch]

18. Don't cheer yet

Look at the list of qualifying conditions:

*****************
In order to qualify for the Medical Cannabis Program a patient must have one of the seven debilitating medical conditions specified in the law.

1. HIV/AIDS
2. Cancer
3. Epilepsy
4. Glaucoma
5. Multiple Sclerosis
6. Spinal Cord Injury with Intractable Spasticity
7. Admittance into Hospice Care

If the patient does not have one of the specified medical conditions, he or she is not currently eligible for the Medical Cannabis Program in NM.
Source: http://www.drugpolicy.org/about/stateoffices/newmexico/medmj/
******************

Chronic pain, severe migraines, insomnia, inner ear disorders, appetite disorders, lupus, Crohns disease, severe burns, neuromuscular disorders... None of these conditions qualify. It's still probably easier to get on-demand morphine than a cannabis card in NM.

[NM Independent]

24. Give us time. They are working through petitions this month to add...

conditions to the list.

Sheesh, we just got started on this last year, and already we're ahead of the pack.

[Fly by night]

40. You may be "ahead of the pack", but you're headed in the wrong direction.

See my post below.

[tridim]

62. Where the hell is Alzheimer's on that list?

Yea, it's a step in the right direction, but it looks like the people who came up with that list aren't very knowledgeable about Cannabis as medicine. That could pose a small problem.

And wow, they're actually letting hospice patients FINALLY use Cannabis? The fact that they couldn't before is just sick. WTF?

[BobTheSubgenius]

19. The way it works here (BC) is.....

...getting a form filled out by a doctor for a qualifying condition, then start buying it from an outlet of the Compassion Club. I know three people that are entitled to do that, and I probably could, if I wanted to. (sleep disorder)

Two things, though.....

1) Kinda pricy - $9-12\g (the $2 cookies have a good rep, though)

2) Like regressives everywhere, the federal Conservatives are trying their best to REcriminalize the whole soft drug arena. At one time, the police more or less refused to prosecute for possession of small amounts, or sometimes even for a small grow op, but Bush Lite can't leave it alone.

To show a bit of fairness, it was a LOT kinder and friendlier for the potheads before some truly unsavoury elements got involved, and perhaps that's who the govt. is after. Locally, the most notable are the Vietnamese and Russian gangs, and bikers.

However, I have a lot of trouble with mandatory minimum sentences for such a relatively benign "crime." All our politicians have to do is take a 10 minute look at how the War On Drugs has fared in the US and have two functioning synapses to see that it's not the way to go.

[Zhade]

72. That's less than half the price of it here in the States.

Wow.

[goclark]

20. Wait until you hear about Our William

He turned 90 yrs. old today.
He is my mother's(she is 90 too) boyfriend and he is now on M MJ!

Three months ago the Dr. gave him only weeks to live.
He was suffering from Alzheimer's -- lost 30 lbs.,just sleeping, would not talk or walk. The few moments that he was awake he was not aware of anyone.

The doctor said that he MUST be able to have some kind of exercise.
William's Fitness Trainer tried to get him to exercise even a bit --no luck.

The doctor's last suggestion was to put him on Medical MJ and he took him off of a lot of the Meds that he was on.

Now ~ William is better than back to his regular self!! :bounce:

He has gained 5 pounds! Exercising with the Trainer and Walking down the block with his Care Giver! He is holding conversations and recognizing friends!

William even told his daughter that he wanted to go back to Bermuda for about a week again!

Today we had a Cupcake Birthday Party for his 90th and we had tears of joy throughout the festivities.

William is a new man! We don't know how long it will last but it has made him Our William again and we are thrilled.

His doctor is at a well known Hospital and usually they don't prescribe "experimental" type drugs but I'll keep you posted.

I told his daughter today that God left William here to give others hope and to let us all know that it's never too late.

PS/ Please excuse the !!!'s but I just can't help it. :bounce::)

[Oldenuff]

21. Good for you!!

I really enjoy the success stories,and they are growing by leaps and bounds,as more and more people realize what a wonder Cannabis is.

There was an article awhile back about parents who realized amazing results with a son who is autistic.There is hope out there,all we need to do is get the Government out of the way of progress.

Cannabis...is there nothing it can't do?




http://www.change.org/ideas/view/legalize_the_medicinal_and_recreational_use_of_marijuana

[Fumesucker]

Cannabis...is there nothing it can't do?

Make lawmakers rational?

[goclark]

39. Yes! The personal stories should be shouted from

the rooftops.

All this time my William wanted to end his life, he really did and now he has a much higher quality of life than he had 3 years ago.

Watch the price of MJ go up like the price of gasoline.

[dougkeenan]

77. It grows for free ...

... any place on Earth with sunshine, dirt, and water.

I've heard it can be grown with those elements supplied artificially as well.

[Rebubula]

44. My Father

He was wasting away from Chemo due to Lung Cancer. He was not eating and not able to keep normal anti-nausea medicine.

This was in 1991, so I had to go and buy some pot illegally to try and help.

We sat in his study, smoked a couple of joints and listening to the 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' over and over.

That night he ate the first full meal in weeks and went to bed happy.

He died 4 weeks later (there was never any hope after diagnosis) but he was eating and feeling OK, considering.

....there seems to be something in my eye....

[Zhade]

75. ...

:hug:

At least he was happy at the end! : )

[Zhade]

73. I teared up. That is so awesome.

People who say mj does no good are just clueless.

[RadiationTherapy]

22. Kick and rec for a pet issue of mine.

Hoping for a sane future.

[Political Tiger]

23. They might want to call them something other than

"dealers."

[Bluenorthwest]

31. You are so very right on that!

Good call. The terminology reeks of street crime. Vendors. Retailers.

[Warren DeMontague]

25. No shit. We need some sanity on the Drug War at the Federal Level.

Maybe with the economy going to crap, people will start to question the wisdom of spending upwards of $40 Billion a year 'fighting' pot smoking.

[awoke_in_2003]

49. No only saving the expenditures...

they will reap tax money, because you know they will tax it.

[Warren DeMontague]

76. Absolutely. As well they should.

I think it's potentially a bigger industry in California than wine.

It's ludicrous that we don't just legalize it, regulate it, and tax it for consenting adults.

And that $40 Billion Drug War price tag doesn't even include the costs of incarceration, mind you. :freak:

[machI]

26. Just goes to show that laws can be changed

This is a first step. When the lawmakers get into their comfort zone, we try again for more decriminalization.

I fail to see the logic in a law that makes me a criminal for possession of a plant that grows wild in a State Forest just up the road from my house.

[machI]

27. Kicked and Recommended

[fasttense]

28. If Tennessee would do this, then all those out of work tobacco farmers

would be in the money.

[Romulox]

29. Eric Holder, Joe Biden do not approve. nt

[Wizard777]

35. Why would they support yet another miserably failed Republican declared "War?"

Be ever mindful of the 3x3.

Article III Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

The Scholars say that "them" refers to the States and not We The People. Well New Mexico is entering this "war" as a high contracting party in defense of the people of the State. Any attacks upon these licensed facilities by the federal government would Constitute treason against the state of New Mexico. The full faith and credit clause just make this even more interesting.

[Romulox]

53. Ask them, not me. Joe Biden and Eric Holder are both STRONG War on Drugs supporters.

[High Plains]

57. Biden has done some horrible things on drug policy, but...

Like creating the drug czar's office, authoring the RAVE Act, etc.

But is he changing his ways? Now he's the author of the best bill to reduce the crack/powder cocaine sentencing disparity. That needs to pass this year.

[blendermax]

64. Typical of Biden

I don't think Biden has a progressive view on any issue whatsoever, outside of abortion perhaps.

I don't know why he calls himself a democrat, though he is a DLCer. He might as well be a Republican.

[Wizard777]

67. They have a new boogieman to beat up to get elected. Terrorists.

It used to be that they would get elected by who could beat up the drug dealers the best. Now it's who can beat up the terrorists the best. I guess the drug community has survived it beat in to the American gang.

[bobd0]

30. K&R for compassionate and sane MM laws

I'm hoping New Jersey will be the next state to come to its senses.

[Bluenorthwest]

32. New Mexico, welcome

to the compassionate 21st Century! I just hope Holder and the rest of the conservative semi Democrats will not stand in the way of people gettng the medicine they need out of some misplaced moralism or ideology. Obama needs to do what he said he would do, promised in specific terms he would do.

[Gamey]

33. Now we need to start on hemp agriculture.

It would turn this backwards state around in a hurry. NM is either at the top or the bottom of the list in just about everything, depending on your perspective. We are finally coming into the 21st century.

[Fly by night]

41. If you want to ruin medical cannabis production, grow hemp in the same area.

Hemp pollen can travel many miles on the wind, and would be happy to fertilize medical cannabis plants, making them stop growing and produce masses of worthless seeds.

I am in favor of medical marijuana AND hemp. Growing them in the same area is very problematic, however. I'm not sure how to solve that problem.

[crikkett]

42. Those seeds aren't worthless

Hemp oil is very good for the body.

[Fly by night]

43. They are "worthless" as medicine or as seeds for future medicine.

Again, we haven't solved this problem yet.

[awoke_in_2003]

50. Don't worry...

Texas has your back :(

[Wizard777]

34. New Mexico needs to remember they have the upper hand against the fed in this.

They are now entering what the fed has "officially declared" and promoted to be a "War" as a high contracting party. Any action against "them" or their allies in this paramilitary war constitutes Treason in accordance to the the US Constitution by the fed. BOO YA! Start building the gallows. We have trials to hold and traitors to freedom, liberty, and democracy to hang.

Article III Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

[Fly by night]

36. Talk about lipstick on a pig. The New Mexico regs are a crock o' shit.

I have worked for the past six years to support New Mexico's stated goal to make cannabis more readily available to sick and dying patients. The revised regs (which were released 15 months later than the authorizing legislation required, and are now being rushed out a week before the comment period ends) do nothing to accomplish that goal.

Here are a few problems:

1) Patients are legally able to grow and possess about six weeks worth of medicine (at one ounce/week). If they grow outdoors to provide their needs (with one harvest per year), they would be in violation of these state regs and subject to arrest for 10 1/2 months of each year.

2) If they grow indoors, they would have to devote 2-4 separate rooms/spaces to their grow operation. Otherwise, they would not be able to keep their grow operation within the state's limits.

3) Requiring non-profit status is a complete Catch 22. The federal government is involved in the determination and assignment of non-profit status, and they will not approve non-profit status for cannabis growers. The Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Santa Cruz, CA found that out when their non-profit status was denied and they were fined $150,000 in back taxes and fees (even though they were giving away the cannabis they grew).

4) New Mexico has mandated a number of very expensive procedures for non-profits to follow if they want to grow cannabis. However, they are allowing those non-profits to grow only enough cannabis for 6 patients a year. Non-profits would have to charge patients at levels which match or exceed the illicit marketplace to serve so few patients with so many expensive operational procedures. (My own proposal to them would have made cannabis available for $50/ounce (or less) immediately to patients at the time they qualify for the program.) The state has also said that they will not intervene if their non-profits are prosecuted by the feds.

5) The New Mexico regs require that any "excess" cannabis must be turned over to local law enforcement. I have spoken with New Mexico growers who say that "excess" cannabis occurs at 2-3 times per harvest (at sexing, to remove fan leaves and at harvest). Given the absurd restrictions on the number of plants and medicine that patients can possess necessitating 4-8 separate harvest per year, patients would be turning in "excess" cannabis 8-24 times per year. (BTW, Michigan law enforcement officials -- facing the same draft regulation -- have stated that they want no part in receiving "excess" cannabis from patients or others, preferring that the health department receive this excess and distribute it to new patients.)

6) The New Mexico regs do nothing to serve the vast majority of potential patients when they need help -- when they are diagnosed with their qualifying condition. Most cancer patients need access to cannabis at the time they undergo chemotherapy, not 5-8 months later when their first harvest happens (if, that is, they are still alive).

I could go on and on, but this particular pig smells of a massive passive aggressiveness from NM Department of Health officials who did not want the program to begin with and whose delays and ridiculous regs discourage patients and others from participating in the program. I have spoken with several New Mexico growers and caregivers who have served patients so far in New Mexico (their program has been in existence for about 1 1/2 years already). NONE of them intend to participate further in New Mexico's program. They are also unanimous in their opinion that NO ONE ELSE should participate in the program, since patients will essentially have to rely on the illicit market for most of their cannabis supply anyway. Why voluntarily put a target on your own back?

I have written extensively about the New Mexico regs and their deficiencies. If any of you want to see my comments, please PM me with your email address and I'll send them to you. I am finishing up a letter to Governor Richardson today, and I'll post that letter here when I am finished.

If you wonder at my qualifications on this topic, please visit www.saveberniesfarm.com

[duhneece]

59. You are so well qualified, so well spoken, so knowledgable

I really enjoyed meeting you at the last NM Dept of Health hearing on medical cannabis and look forward to working together in the future.
I can't help but remain hopeful that we (New Mexico) are moving in the right direction, however slowly and with however many missteps.

[Fly by night]

65. The NM legislature had the right idea. The mistake was to assign 6 lawyers to draft the regs.

Now we know how many lawyers it takes to screw up a good bill.

Thanks for commenting on my post, and it is great to know you too. I also remain hopeful that New Mexico can get back on the right track. That will take Governor Richardson getting involved in rescuing a program that he has invested considerable political capital to support.

You can probably help with that. I doubt if Richardson is seeing any of the critical memos being sent to him. Perhaps that's why -- after a 15 month delay in developing the regs -- the NMDOH announced the "final" regs a week before the comment period was to end. Every other activist I have heard from out there shares my concerns. To a person, they will not remain involved in the state's program.

[samsingh]

37. a lot of time is wasted trying to stop this drug. it should be freely available

[harun]

38. Great news.

[Le Taz Hot]

45. Good job, NM!

:applause: :applause: :woohoo:

[Deep13]

46. This drug war has to end.

Apart from the obvious humanitarian concern, we simply can't afford it. I fear those who make their living enforcing marijuana laws put up stiff resistance. There are countless state and local agencies all over the country that do nothing but drug interdiction. Hopefully they will see that removing grass from the list will give them more time to enforce laws against cocaine, meth and heroin.

[Soylent Brice]

47. K&R

one step closer...

[Broadslidin]

48. "We will gladly update your Permanent Record, thank you for your assistance." N.M. State Police

Stop by your nearest New Mexico State Police Office, Today.

And
as a compliment to your outstanding community service,
fresh coffee and donuts are freely provided for
all our "Full Confession" :hangover: customers.

Wanted:
"Pot Heads"
(Providing our contracted prison labor corporations,
the "Highest Quality" workforce, immaginable...!)

[WhiteTara]

52. yep, staying "outlaw"

seems a lot safer. Once on a government list, your name never disappears.

[sasquuatch55]

51. K&R

[1776Forever]

55. I would hope and pray that Florida will someday do the same for my son with MS.

Thanks for posting this.

[Joey Liberal]

58. I think its great! nt

[pleah]

61. K&R

[GinaMaria]

63. Remember California

The DEA does not honor state regulations. They raided a MM clinic, arrested the caregivers and left patients in pain searching for another source for pain control. It sounds like New Mexico has more contols in place and is regulating the practice. I still worry what the Feds may try to do here. The California raid was to send a message. :-( For the sake of patients who do not respond well to opiates, I hope the Feds bud out.

[unapatriciated]

66. Sweet - Obama, Holder and Gupta...

Leave them the hell alone

[newtothegame]

68. Nice! n/t

[kayakjohnny]

70. Patada y Recomendar

Now this is a way to start a year!

[Union Yes]

74. Legalize>>>>TAX>>>>NEW REVENUE+NEW CROPS

SAVE THE F***ING FAMILY FARM!

Give farmers a new crop to grow.

Hemp Grass and Marijauna.

Did you know..

Hemp is one of the most efficient plants to grow on planet earth? It requires the least amount of energy to grow vs the amount of fuel/energy and overall usefullness the plant can create.

Hemp seed oil can be used as cooking oil or can be converted into a cleaner burning bio diesel fuel.

The stalk can be used for fibers for making cloth, ropes, and a whole host of products.

The entire plant can be used to make cellulose ethanol.

The plants grow fast and can grow to 10-15 feet tall in a 3 month span. They require little tillage and about the only need they have is steady rainfall.


Furthermore, Hemp/MJ gives our struggling and bankrupted family farm industry an incredibly lucrative crop to grow. A prescription that our ailing family farms have been asking for , for THE PAST 30-40 YEARS!

As the son of a bankrupted farmer, a crop like this 25 years ago would have saved our farm from foreclosure.

Barack, I hope you read this!

Peace