The New Mexico Dept. of Health has released the newest Proposed Rule Changes to the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program, and they are public on the DOH website. A Public Hearing on the proposed changes will take place on December 29, 2014 at the auditorium of the Harrold Runnels Bldg in Santa Fe, (details below). This is also the location of the NM Dept of Health. Use this link to get to the page with the new rules as well as a synopsis by the DOH.
I have only briefly perused the newest, new rules, and from this quick glance I see that most of the concerns and problems that patients had with the previous crazy Proposed Rules have been alleviated, such as increased costs to program patients, accessibility, delivery and the dreaded background checks for patients wanting to grow their own medicine. As far as the producers are concerned, it seems they got some concessions, and they will even be able to increase plant numbers, but there are some things they may not too happy about and I will leave it to these licensed producers to debate their fate.
I encourage everyone with a stake in this program to preview the Proposed Rule Changes carefully and get in on the discussions at the dispensaries, and at the NM Cannabis Patient Alliance Meeting on December 16th
What: NM Cannabis Patient’s Alliance Meeting
Where: High Desert Relief, 4730 East Pan American Fwy, NE, Suite D, Albuquerque
When: Tuesday, Dec 16th 2014 – 6:30 pm
Jessica Gelay of the NM Drug Policy Alliance will be there to shed light on these proposed rule changes and help us to form a plan of action if any for the DOH Meeting the following Monday on Dec 29th at 9am. This is a great opportunity to see what the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Patient’s Alliance does and to meet Jessica from the DPA. She works hard for all of us.
What: NM Medical Cannabis Program Public Hearing
Where: Harold Runnels Building
1190 S. St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505
When: Monday, December 29th 2014 – 9am
The Railrunner stops very close to this location (short walk). Also, there is parking across the street (St Francis Drive) at the park if you can’t find a place to park in the building’s parking lot.
To help us show our solidarity, free t-shirts will be distributed at the NMMCPA meeting. Come on in – get a free t-shirt and hear what is happening in YOUR medical Cannabis program. Win-Win!
Shirts will also be distributed at the meeting in Santa Fe on the 29th, but why wait?