Are you having Trouble Finding the Page you are looking for? Feel free to contact us or use our A to Z page to find an alphabetical list of pages and services available on this site.

David Morgan

575-528-5197 Office

575-649-0754 Mobile 575-528-5197 Office575-649-0754 Mobile

Department of Health Proposes Medical Cannabis Rule Changes

Department of Health Proposes Medical Cannabis Rule Changes Improving Supply and Quality of Medicine

Public will have opportunity to provide important feedback

The New Mexico Department of Health ( NMDOH ) announces details today of proposed rule changes for its Medical Cannabis Program ( MCP ) that, if adopted, will implement several important policy changes, including a new maximum limit of 1,750 plants for licensed non-profit producers ( LNPP s) of medical cannabis.

“Our focus with this is to better provide a medical cannabis system that guarantees safe access for patients to safe medicine,” said Department of Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel. “We want to assure patients have enough medicine both now and in the future as well as in forms that make the most sense for the very conditions they’re treating.“

The new plant limit replaces NMAC Rule Change - 2019 - MCP - Emergency Amendment enacted in March that adopted an emergency plant count rule of 2,500 plants for LNPP s while the NMDOH worked to obtain data for a permanent rule.

The proposed provisions would strengthen oversight of licensed cannabis operators and their inventory, as well as assure proper disposal of product where necessary. A formal hearing will be held on July 12, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in the auditorium of the Harold Runnels Building, located at 1190 St. Francis Drive in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The Department of Health carefully developed the new plant limit to balance concerns about available medical cannabis supply while limiting the risk of the over-production that has disrupted regulated systems in other states (Oregon 2019 Recreational Marijuana Supply and Demand Legislative Report). NMDOH this spring commissioned surveys of qualified patients and all current licensed producers to obtain metrics on the current market conditions. In addition to the surveys, data from cannabis producers and national industry averages were also analyzed to determine an appropriate plant limit.

The proposed rule change also allows plant limits to grow with the size of the market through a provision beginning in June of 2021. It will allow licensed producers to request an increase of up to 500 permitted plants if they are nearing their capacity to supply their patients’ demand.

LNPP s will be able exclude cannabis seedlings from their plant limit. A seedling is a young plant that does not have any psychoactive properties yet. This change in policy will allow licensed producers to experiment with cultivating a wider variety of plant strains and is designed to increase the available supply of plants high in alternative cannabinoids like CBD, which is used for serious conditions like epilepsy.

In addition, the MCP is preparing for another round of rulemaking to comply with statutory mandates enacted by the Legislature earlier this year in Senate Bill 406.

“In the coming weeks and months, we will be reaching out to the medical cannabis community to listen and get input on how the program can continue to evolve and improve safe access for patients,” added Secretary Kunkel. “Critical health-related issues like quality testing and labeling need to be addressed in the next set of rules and are crucial to get right. We also will also be evaluating the Medical Cannabis Program’s strategic objectives and looking at any broader structural changes that need to happen.”

See Rules & Regulations for the full proposed rule.

Media Contact

We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact David Morgan at 575-528-5197 (Office) or 575-649-0754 (Mobile) with your questions.

Versión en Español

En un esfuerzo para hacer que nuestros comunicados de prensa sean más accesibles, también tenemos disponibles una versión en español. Por favor presione el enlace de abajo para acceder a la traducción.

Departamento de Salud Propone Cambios en la Reglas para Canabis Médico, Mejorando el Suministro y Calidad del Medicamento