Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jul 2014
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2014 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Page: A6

HEALTH DEPARTMENT DROPS THE WRONG POT REFORMS

There were legitimate concerns with some of the Department of 
Health's proposed revisions of its medical marijuana rules - a hefty 
new fee that had yet to be justified chief among them.

But rather than reconsider why users - presumably some of the state's 
most medically vulnerable individuals - should have to fork over an 
extra $50 every year as a renewal fee when the program is in the 
black, the department instead is abandoning plans to add criminal 
background checks on patients who grow their own and reduce the 
number of plants they can have.

That's right, if you have arrests and/or convictions say, for 
possession with intent to distribute illegal narcotics, it's don't 
ask, don't tell, and pass the fertilizer.

It is the latest misstep from a department entrusted with overseeing 
a program that by definition sanctions a drug classified as illegal 
by the federal government, all in the name of providing some 
compassionate relief to the state's chronically ill patients.

Instead, the program has struggled to ensure there is enough medical 
marijuana available for patients dealing with debilitating ailments 
including AIDS, cancer and MS. The Health Department has concealed 
the identities and criminal histories of commercial producers since 
the program's beginnings in 2007, protected prescribers who write a 
disproportionate number of prescriptions and admit to seeing patients 
while stoned, and failed to address claims of price gouging and poor quality.

Health officials are expected to make a final decision on their other 
proposed changes after a hearing officer's report is turned over this 
month. Let's hope they do something to establish a little credibility 
in a program that to date they have allowed to be too easily abused.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom