Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jul 2014
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2014 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Dan Boyd
Page: C1

SOME MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROPOSALS PULLED

Patient Background Checks for Growing, New Limit on Plants Both Shelved

SANTA FE - A New Mexico state agency is backing away from some of its 
proposed changes to the state's medical marijuana program after those 
plans came under fire from licensed medical pot producers and users.

A top-ranking Department of Health official told lawmakers Thursday 
that the agency will withdraw two proposals - criminal background 
checks for patients approved to grow their own medical marijuana and 
a reduction in pot plants for personal consumption. Currently, 
patients can grow up to four plants and 12 seedlings, and the 
proposed change would have allowed two plants and six seedlings.

In addition, the department plans to revise its proposed new fee 
structure for licensed producers. Other changes, including a 
first-ever $50-per-year fee for users to renew their registry ID 
cards, are still being weighed by the agency.

"The department received a lot of feedback through public comment and 
has decided, based on those comments, that it intends to make changes 
to some of the proposed rules," Health Department spokesman Kenny 
Vigil told the Journal. "The department takes the feedback it 
receives very seriously and will continue to review it."

The announcement was made at an interim legislative committee hearing 
at Taos Pueblo and was applauded by medical cannabis advocates.

"We are pleased to see they are coming to their senses on the 
proposed changes," said Emily Kaltenbach, the director of the New 
Mexico Drug Policy Alliance, who testified at Thursday's hearing.

She said the two proposed rule-making changes that will be scrapped 
would have hurt the program by making it more difficult to obtain legal pot.

Meanwhile, Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, the vice chairman 
of the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, also said he 
was encouraged by Health Department officials' receptiveness to 
public feedback.

The proposed changes to the medical marijuana program were unveiled 
by the Health Department in February after an internal survey found 
the program was struggling to supply a growing number of patients. 
They include changes in fees, testing and plant limits.

However, the proposed changes have been blasted by those who would be 
affected most - medical marijuana providers and users, many of whom 
are military veterans.

About 500 people showed up last month for a public hearing on the 
proposals in Santa Fe, with most opposed to the proposed changes. In 
addition, 963 people submitted written comments, although the Health 
Department did not have a breakdown of how many were in favor of the 
proposals and how many were against.

Currently, the state has 23 licensed medical marijuana providers who 
are limited to growing no more than 150 marijuana plants each. 
Although licensed providers would be able to grow up to 450 plants 
under the proposed changes, they would have to pay higher fees to the state.

The state's medical pot program was created in 2007. There are 11,327 
patients enrolled, according to the Department of Health.

The agency will make its final decision on the remaining proposed 
changes after it receives a hearing officer's report, Vigil said. 
That report is expected to be turned over by the end of this month.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom