I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Although the Drug Policy Alliance of New Mexico applauded the state’s decision Monday to approve four new nonprofit medical marijuana providers, Executive Director Reena Szczepanski said more will be needed soon. “You can do a back-of the envelope calculation and say this will meet a significant portion of the need, but it’s got to continue to be expanded,” Szczepanski told The Independent.
The state currently has nearly 800 medical cannabis patients but only one provider. The four additional four producers are expected to supply 100 patients each; but as patients become more comfortable with joining the program, and as more medical conditions are added, they too can be expected to strain to keep supply in line with demand.
“It’s a wonderful expansion and it’s nice to see that there’s obviously been a consideration of the number of patients and the need that’s out there that’s not being met, but the number of patients will continue to grow,” Szczepanski said.
Earlier this year, the state’s existing provider, the Santa Fe Institute of Natural Medicine, announced it was out of stock; since then it has resorted to rationing.
As the state continues to asses its unique medical marijuana program, Szczepanski recommends that the Department of Health ask patients how the system can be improved.
“I would recommend a survey be done of the patients, to find out what access they have to the medicine. Is it regular? Can they count on the supply? Is it within a reasonable driving distance? Can they access it safely?” Szczepanski said.
One point of stress in the system has been the lack of a provider willing to deliver the drug to patients in southern New Mexico. At issue are border security checkpoints that the Santa Fe Institute of Natural Medicine has refused to cross for fear that its driver would face arrest and prosecution.
A producer located in the southern part of the state might not have to cross those checkpoints.
But Szczepanski said the issue wasn’t necessarily one of location.
“The physical location of these faciliteis is less important than the geographic area that they …are successfully able to serve. So if a [provider] in Taos has a plan that’s viable to serve Las Cruces…that’s fine.”
In the meantime, the Drug Policy Alliance is eager to see the four new providers get up and running. After that, they’ll look for the gaps to find what needs to be filled in.
