Dispencery Questions

As some of you folks in MJ program know, they are currently trying to repeal the medical cannabis laws here in NM.

For those of you who like to support the program, here is a sample letter you may use,



Hi again,

Following is a sample letter to communicate with legislators regarding HB 593, the Repeal of NM’s Medical Cannabis laws, drafted by NORML. Below that, also attached is an article by NORML discussing HB 593.

This communication is transmitted by an attorney. It is intended only for the use of the addressee, and may contain privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from reading, disseminating, distributing, or copying the message above and its attachments. If you have received this communication in error, please erase all copies and notify me immediately.


Sample Letter re Oppose HB 593 Repeal of Medical Cannabis Laws in NM:
I’m writing to voice my opposition to House Bill 593 that seeks to eliminate the existing rights of medical marijuana patients in New Mexico.

To date, fifteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws allowing for the physician-supervised access of medical cannabis. OVERALL, THESE LAWS ARE WORKING AS INTENDED AND REPORTED ABUSES HAVE BEEN MINIMAL. There is not a single INDICENCE where lawmakers have elected to repeal these measures.

Under existing law, New Mexico patients are afforded the legal option to use medical cannabis therapy, if such therapy is approved by their physician. To deny this therapeutic option to patients improperly interferes with the relationship between a patient and his or her doctor. State and federal laws already allow the medical use of many drugs, such as cocaine and morphine, which can be abused in a non-medical setting. Basic compassion and common sense demand that we allow the seriously ill
to use whatever medication provides safe and effective relief. OVER 3,000 PATIENTS IN NEW MEXICO ARE NOW BENEFITING FROM THE PHYSICIAN-SUPERVISED USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO DENY THESE PATIENTS THIS RELIEF.

THE MEDICAL USE OF marijuana has a remarkable safety record as a therapeutic agent, particularly when compared to other conventional medications. Most significantly, the consumption of marijuana – regardless of quantity or potency -- cannot induce a fatal overdose. The plant’s therapeutically active compounds are also remarkably non-toxic when compared to other therapeutics.

Most importantly, the use of medical marijuana is greatly improving the quality of life and productivity of THOUSANDS of New Mexicans. It makes little sense from either a fiscal standpoint or from a public safety standpoint to reclassify these people as criminals.

I urge you to protect those patients and their doctors who recognize that marijuana has medical utility, and to uphold the sanctity and privacy of the doctor-patient relationship.




From NORML.ORG:

New Mexico Lawmaker Introduces Legislation to Repeal Medical Marijuana Law

A New Mexico lawmaker has introduced legislation to repeal the state's four-year-old medical marijuana law.

House Bill 593, introduced by Santa Fe Republican James Smith, aims to completely repeal New Mexico's existing medical marijuana law, which was initially approved by the legislature and the Governor in 2007.

Presently, over 3,200 patients are using cannabis legally in compliance with state law. In addition, state officials have licensed some 25 facilities to produce or dispense medical cannabis. To date, reports of abuses regarding the use or distribution of medical cannabis as authorized by the law have been minimal.

Nevertheless, Smith -- who admits "I'm not a medical doctor, I don't pretend to be" -- states that the law sends a mixed message to young people and that other alternative medications are available.

House Bill 593 has been assigned to the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee and awaits a scheduled hearing. Newly elected Republican Governor Susana Martinez, who recently stated that this issue would not be a legislative priority for her administration in 2011, has said she would sign Smith's bill if it reaches her desk.

Do not let that happen! There has never been a single state medical marijuana law that has been repealed. Do not let New Mexico be the first. Please make sure that your House member has heard from you. You can contact him or her by visiting NORML's 'Take Action Center' here:

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=30556501

Thank you for supporting marijuana law reform efforts in New Mexico.

Sincerely,
The NORML Team

By all the input sent to the governer, I got a reply from her office, she did not stand behind the bill to overturn MMJ in our state. The stupid idiot that put the bill up has another one that calls for a review of the system. Having some of the strictest rules of all the medical states this also seems unreasonable, unless they are looking at how we are getting abused by having to pay trumped up delivery charges if you live anywhere besides alb. or santa fe.

There are now some better dispenseries that have quality product at some decent prices as low as 10$ a gram. Anyone else talked to the new providers? Can't wait till my harvest but until then I"m still getting jacked by the state

I searched this thread but I did not find this. What kills me are the fees for producers.
They are outrageous and I bet they don't charge liquor stores these fees.
All these fees get passed on to patients.

http://newsjunkiepost.com/2010/12/18/new-mexico-oks-more-plants-for-medical-marijuana-producers/

[h=1]New Mexico OKs More Plants For Medical Marijuana Producers[/h]

The New Mexico Department of Health on Friday announced changes to its medical marijuana regulations, one of which will add to the supply of legally grown marijuana by increasing the number of plants licensed producers can grow from 95 to 150.
Another change will create a permanent revenue stream to allow the program to pay for itself by increasing producer fees.
The new regulations take effect December 30, reports Phaedra Haywood at the Santa Fe New Mexican.
Under the new fees, marijuana producers who have been licensed for less than a year will pay $5,000 annually; those in business for more than a year will pay $10,000; and producers in business for three years or more will be charged an annual fee of $20,000.
The application fee for nonprofits seeking a license to legally grow cannabis for medical purposes will also increase from $100 to $1,000.
The fees are based on what the program requires to become self sufficient, about $700,000 per year, according to health department spokeswoman Deborah Busemeyer. By the third year in business, a nonprofit medical marijuana producer should be grossing about $400,000 a year, according to estimates from producers, according to Busemeyer.
“We think it’s a minimal cost to producers,” Busemeyer said, adding that the $400,000 estimate was based on producers only being allowed to grow 95 plants per year.
The health department will also increase the number of licensed marijuana producers to 25.
Other rule changes will allow nonprofit producers to get plants, seeds and useable cannabis from other producers, making it easier for them to start, and stay, in business.
Busemeyer said some of the new regulations were made in response to feedback the health department got during two public hearings.
Another new rule will allow the department to collect and test samples of marijuana, according to Busemeyer.
There are about 3,000 patients enrolled in New Mexico’s enrolled in the medical marijuana program, a number which continues to increase. About 1,400 patients are licensed to grow their own cannabis, but Busemeyer and Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil both said the state is still getting reports from patients and providers that production is not meeting demand.
The new rules were needed to ensure a more comfortable balance between supply and demand, Vigil said on Friday.
After the new regulations are in effect, Vigil said he expects the growth of New Mexico’s medical marijuana program to stabilize.
“Under the current legislation, I think we’ve accomplished what we’ve set out to accomplish,” Vigial said. “But the public can expect policy surrounding the use of marijuana to continue to evolve.”
Just what the evolution might entail is the big question mark at this point, especially in light of the federal government’s policy prohibiting marijuana for any reason.
One area of particular concern is that five-year federal mandatory minimum prison sentences kick in at the 100-plant level, which will now be exceeded by New Mexico producers licensed by the state to grow 150 plants.
“Given the number of states who now have programs, you would think that the federal policymakers would have to make adjustments,” Vigil said.
“There are also issues around research,” Vigil said. “We badly need scientific research to understand what it is good for and what it is not. So, there is a lot of evolution going to be happening and that’s what people should expect,” Vigil said.
Unfortunately, the federal government isn’t the only peril that might adversely affect the evolution of New Mexico’s medicinal cannabis program. Incoming Governor Susana Martinez has vowed to seek the repeal of the state’s medical marijuana law.
About the author: Steve Elliott, a working journalist since 1982, is editor of Toke of the Town, Village Voice Media’s site of cannabis news, views, rumor and humor. He used to smoke marijuana. He still does, but he used to, too.

rolled1 said:

NM now has 11 total producers for the state, each with a 95 plant limit. Personal production licenses (the one for patients producing their own) have a 12 seedlings plus 4 full grown (producing) plants limit. I've had my mmj license for a year and a half-still haven't connected with any state weed. it's pretty pricey-only sold by the gram coming to about $400.00 an ounce. and with almost 2000 patients-each with a 6 ounce limit-there is NO WAY the state sanctioned producers can keep up.
the devil's in the details so to speak, regarding getting licensed.
it's not as easy as one might hope.

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"House Bill 593, introduced by Santa Fe Republican James Smith, aims to completely repeal New Mexico's existing medical marijuana law, which was initially approved by the legislature and the Governor in 2007" MY VIEW on Republican James Smith: This piece of garbage needs to be dealt with at the Ballot Box. James Smith is nothing but a lousy shill for big pharma and the corporate jail owners. Big pharma dont want NO competition in the narcotic industry, they are spreading lots of money around to these crooked politicians. They were successful in getting our MMJ Bill killed in a senate committee here in Mississippi. Right now they are marching on to kill the MMJ bills in Montgomery and Nashville. That lying ass Obama is sending feds to close Oaksterdam out in Cal. And the green pharmacy owners are having to look over their shoulder for the DEA. You all up in Santa Fe take James Smith out come election day.

Most of the legislators who passed the law are still in office. Even Governor Texas Bitch knew better than to take that tiger by the tail. I doubt seriously that it will pass since the program is so restrictive and we don't have issue other states have with controlling the program.

That's what the powerful do, take back whats not theirs. They rollin-back the Rhode Island law right now big time. Get rid of patient/caregiver growing & make you buy at a dispensary so they can pick our pockets. They are blood sucking leeches on society (the people) the ballot box is rigged against us and it may take more than ballots.

onegreenday said:

That's what the powerful do, take back whats not theirs. They rollin-back the Rhode Island law right now big time. Get rid of patient/caregiver growing & make you buy at a dispensary so they can pick our pockets. They are blood sucking leeches on society (the people) the ballot box is rigged against us and it may take more than ballots.

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Actually, the program has been loosening up a bit here. We're having a meeting this month to discuss widening the qualifying conditions and they just recently relaxed the amount of cannabis you can have AND they have increased the number of plants a producer can grow from 99 to 150. I really don't think we're in any danger of this program being cut. Plus (almost forgot) they are using the money the producers pay for licenses to fund the program.

that's good news. In RI the goal is to ban at home growing (as the AG has stated)
to prevent diversion. I take it that 'diversion' is not on their radar there.

malignant said:

i just got the new letter in the mail with all the bunk dispensaries.. and i say bunk because they lack the number one things Quality/product. never any to go around, and when there is its preemie unflushed and poorly grown, No one in this state seems to have an idea what bud hardeners and finishers are.. Super airy chloroformy crappy bud. and the shit coming in from toas is exatly that shit.. too many growers are turning into tweekers here.

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Nobody wants "bud hardener". That stuff does more damage than good for the patent.