Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Health officials have selected 12 applicants to become licensed nonprofit producers for New Mexico's medical cannabis program, subject to site visits showing they comply with state regulations.
If all 12 receive licenses, it would increase the total number of licensed medical pot producers to 35, the New Mexico Department of Health said Monday.
No licensed producers have been added to current list of 23 since 2010.
The agency did not identify the 12 selected applicants, despite a directive announced in July by Gov. Susana Martinez that the names of medical marijuana producers and their employees be made public.
Health department officials said the directive requires regulatory changes now in the works.
"Consistent with Governor Martinez's direction for more transparency in the Medical Cannabis Program, the Department of Health is working on a rule change so that (licensed nonprofit producer) information is public," agency spokesman Kenny Vigil said in a written statement.
"The DOH anticipates publication of the proposed rule changes, and conducting a public hearing sometime this fall," he said.
Eight of the selected applicants are located in Bernalillo County, and one each in Chaves, Santa Fe, Taos and Valencia counties.
A DOH committee used a scoring system to select the 12 from a pool of 86 applicants under consideration in August.
Expanding the number of licensed producers is part of the agency's strategy for increasing the availability of medical cannabis in New Mexico, health officials have said.
A 2013 survey found that program was struggling to supply a growing number of registered patients.
New Mexico today has more than 17,500 patients who are licensed to buy medical marijuana from state-approved producers, according to DOH records.
The agency responded last year with a plan to increase the number of licensed producers and increase the number of plants each is allowed to grow.
In February, the agency approved new rules that increased to 450 the maximum number of pot plants each producer can grow, up from the previous limit of 150.
The Health Department reported in August that a total of 4,447 pot plants were in production by the state's 23 licensed nonprofit producers. Ten producers are growing the maximum 450 plants, Vigil said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New Mexico Vetting 12 Cannabis Producers
Author: Olivier Uyttebrouck
Photo Credit: The Boston Globe
Website: ABQ Journal
If all 12 receive licenses, it would increase the total number of licensed medical pot producers to 35, the New Mexico Department of Health said Monday.
No licensed producers have been added to current list of 23 since 2010.
The agency did not identify the 12 selected applicants, despite a directive announced in July by Gov. Susana Martinez that the names of medical marijuana producers and their employees be made public.
Health department officials said the directive requires regulatory changes now in the works.
"Consistent with Governor Martinez's direction for more transparency in the Medical Cannabis Program, the Department of Health is working on a rule change so that (licensed nonprofit producer) information is public," agency spokesman Kenny Vigil said in a written statement.
"The DOH anticipates publication of the proposed rule changes, and conducting a public hearing sometime this fall," he said.
Eight of the selected applicants are located in Bernalillo County, and one each in Chaves, Santa Fe, Taos and Valencia counties.
A DOH committee used a scoring system to select the 12 from a pool of 86 applicants under consideration in August.
Expanding the number of licensed producers is part of the agency's strategy for increasing the availability of medical cannabis in New Mexico, health officials have said.
A 2013 survey found that program was struggling to supply a growing number of registered patients.
New Mexico today has more than 17,500 patients who are licensed to buy medical marijuana from state-approved producers, according to DOH records.
The agency responded last year with a plan to increase the number of licensed producers and increase the number of plants each is allowed to grow.
In February, the agency approved new rules that increased to 450 the maximum number of pot plants each producer can grow, up from the previous limit of 150.
The Health Department reported in August that a total of 4,447 pot plants were in production by the state's 23 licensed nonprofit producers. Ten producers are growing the maximum 450 plants, Vigil said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New Mexico Vetting 12 Cannabis Producers
Author: Olivier Uyttebrouck
Photo Credit: The Boston Globe
Website: ABQ Journal
