OT:Law Requires N.M. To Grow Its Own Pot

Started by K9, Jul 01, 2007, 07:51 AM

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K9

http://cbs2.com/watercooler/watercooler_story_181095842.html

(AP) SANTA FE, N.M. New Mexico has a new medical marijuana law with a twist: It requires the state to grow its own.

The law, effective Sunday, not only protects medical marijuana users from prosecution -- as 11 other states do -- but requires New Mexico to oversee a production and distribution system for the drug.

"The long-term goal is that the patients will have a safe, secure supply that doesn't mean drug dealers, that doesn't mean growing their own," said Reena Szczepanski, director of Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico.

The state Department of Health must issue rules by Oct. 1 for the licensing of marijuana producers and in-state, secured facilities, and for developing a distribution system.

The law was passed in March and signed by Gov. Bill Richardson, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Other states with medical marijuana laws are Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Maryland's law doesn't protect patients from arrest, but it keeps defendants out of jail if they can convince judges they needed marijuana for medical reasons.

Connecticut's governor vetoed a medical marijuana bill recently.

The distribution and use of marijuana are illegal under federal law, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2005 in a California case that medical marijuana users can be prosecuted.

Faced with that dilemma, the health department has asked state Attorney General Gary King whether its employees could be federally prosecuted for running the medical marijuana registry and identification card program, and whether the agency can license marijuana producers and facilities.

"The production part is unprecedented. ... No other state law does that," said Dr. Steve Jenison, who is running the program for the health department. "So we're trying to be very thoughtful in how we proceed."

In the meantime, however, patients must obtain their own supplies.

The state will immediately begin taking applications from patients whose doctors certify they are eligible for the program.

Within weeks, approved patients -- or their approved primary caregivers -- would receive temporary certificates allowing them to possess up to six ounces of marijuana, four mature plants and three immature seedlings. That's enough for three months, the department says.

The law allows the use of marijuana for specified conditions including cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and HIV-AIDS, as well as by some patients in hospice care.

An eight-member advisory board of doctors could recommend that other conditions be added to the list.

Martin Walker was diagnosed four years ago as HIV positive and uses marijuana to combat nausea and depression. He said he looks forward to being able to obtain the drug legally.

"If there's a system in place that's going to allow me to do this treatment without having to break the law ... I'll just be able to sleep better at night," said Walker, who runs HIV prevention and other outdoor-based adult health programs for the Santa Fe Mountain Center.

Explaining misandry to a feminist is like explaining "wet" to a fish.

Cordell Walker

this is very good news..................hopefully industrial hemp will be next
"how can you kill women and children?"---private joker
"Easy, ya just dont lead em as much" ---Animal Mother

Mr. X

Wow, the state making pot. I wonder what kind of inefficient train wreck this is going to turn out to be.
Feminists - "Verbally beating men like dumb animals or ignoring them is all we know and its not working."

CaptDMO

I seem to recall when reefer was on trial for legal use to treat the symptoms of gloucoma
that the "state" brand sucked so bad test subjects tossed it an went back to street suppliers.

As far as hemp goes, the time for the reintroduction of that is WAY passed. I suspect there's
too many well healed (yet nervous)  petrochemical, non-THC pharmaceutical, food additives, cotton, packaging, and paper products lobbys to let THAT happen anytime soon.

dr e


I seem to recall when reefer was on trial for legal use to treat the symptoms of gloucoma
that the "state" brand sucked so bad test subjects tossed it an went back to street suppliers.


That is probably true but the climate of NM is perfect to grow cannibis.  With good irrigation they will have a very good product.   :greener:  It would take a "dope" not to grow it well. 
Contact dr e  Lifeboats for the ladies and children, icy waters for the men.  Women have rights and men have responsibilties.

Cordell Walker



I seem to recall when reefer was on trial for legal use to treat the symptoms of gloucoma
that the "state" brand sucked so bad test subjects tossed it an went back to street suppliers.


That is probably true but the climate of NM is perfect to grow cannibis.  With good irrigation they will have a very good product.   :greener:  It would take a "dope" not to grow it well. 


according to most small scale indoor growers , the two most important factors are light/heat and the actual kind of seeds.............. mexican commericial is mostly the cannibis sativa variety where inica strains are the kushes and jamacian red varieties
"how can you kill women and children?"---private joker
"Easy, ya just dont lead em as much" ---Animal Mother

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