Brandon Keim
Science

Grow Your Own, Says New Mexico Medical Marijuana Law

As of yesterday, New Mexico law not only permits the medical use of marijuana, but provides state oversight of medicinal pot’s growth and distribution. "The long-term goal is that the patients will have a safe, secure supply that doesn’t mean drug dealers, that doesn’t mean growing their own," said Reena Szczepanski, director of Drug Policy […]

Budshomer1
As of yesterday, New Mexico law not only permits the medical use of marijuana, but provides state oversight of medicinal pot's growth and distribution.

"The long-term goal is that the patients will have a safe, secure supply that doesn't mean drug dealers, that doesn't mean growing their own," said Reena Szczepanski, director of Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico.

The state Department of Health must issue rules by Oct. 1 for the licensing of marijuana producers and in-state, secured facilities, and for developing a distribution system.

Officials in New Mexico -- the eleventh state to legalize medical marijuana, but the first to regulate its production -- are still trying to figure out whether health department employees could potentially face federal prosecution, as users do.

Among the conditions for which pot use is permitted are cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and HIV-AIDS.
Patients in hospice care are also covered.

Law Requires N.M. to Grow Its Own Pot [Associated Press]