07/08/2007 00:00:00
US: New Mexico Medical Marijuana Program Moves Forward
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One month after New Mexico’s medical cannabis law went into effect, the
program is moving forward with the Department of Health registering
patients and appointing advisors.
The state health department issued the first temporary patient
identification cards July 1, and now 46 applications have been received
with 17 patients registered. Applications for identification cards for
both patients and their primary caregivers are available at the
Department of Health’s website.
Reena Szczepanski, director of DPA New Mexico, said, “After years of
fighting to pass legislation, it is wonderful that registered medical
marijuana patients are finally receiving protection in our state.”
The Department of Health recently finalized appointment of the Medical
Advisory Committee, a board of eight certified physicians that will
advise the Department on developing and implementing the rules for the
new program.
The Committee will also meet at least twice a year to conduct public
meetings and review petitions to allow other debilitating medical
conditions that could benefit from the medical use of cannabis. The
current rules of the program restrict eligibility to people with cancer,
glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, and a particular type
of spinal cord damage.
The Medical Advisory Committee is scheduled to hold its first public
hearing next month. More information on the Committee is available from
the Department of Health.
The next major step will be the establishment of rules and regulations
for the Medical Cannabis Program by October 1, which will create a
framework for the state-licensed production and distribution of medical
marijuana for registered patients.
Production and distribution overseen by the Department would ensure a
safe and secure supply of medicine for patients, particularly for those
individuals who do not know where or how to access cannabis.
For questions regarding qualification for the program or the application
process, please contact Melissa Milam with the Department of Health at
(505) 827-2321.
http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/080707nmmmj.cfm
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12773
Author:
Drug Policy Alliance via UKCIA
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