Bill would increase amount of medical marijuana licensed producers in NM can grow
A lawmaker wants to increase the amount of marijuana that licensed medical-cannabis producers in New Mexico can grow.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the proposal by Democratic Sen. Cisco McSorley of Albuquerque also would increase the amount of marijuana that the program’s participants can possess.
The bill would let producers grow up to 1,000 cannabis plants during any three-month period. Currently, a producer can have 450 plants.
The proposal also would allow program participants possess up to 5 ounces of marijuana during a 30-day period. They are now allowed to possess 8 ounces during a 90-day period.
Officials said in November that the number of participants had grown from 18,600 to nearly 33,000 in a year’s time. The large patient volume also has strained supplies.
About 175 cardholders buy medical marijuana from MJ Expresso in Las Cruces. Assistant Manager Victoria Trujillo told ABC-7 they are sometimes forced to turn patients away.
“They get frustrated. They’re trying to get their medication and they’re having limits put on them because there’s not enough supply for them,” Trujillo said, “We aren’t able to meet all of our patients’ needs so we’re constantly running out of flower. We’re constantly running out of different oils and edibles.”
