Health Department Won’t Oversee Marijuana Production, Distribution

SANTA FE, N.M.(AP) – State officials won’t comply with a portion of a new state medical marijuana law that requires New Mexico to oversee production and distribution of the drug.

Health Department head Alfredo Vigil says producing and distributing marijuana could subject agency employees to federal prosecution. Vigil says the department will continue to certify certain patients as eligible to possess marijuana without risking state prosecution.

Attorney General Gary King said last week that the agency and its employees could face federal prosecution for implementing the law. It went into effect last month.

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