The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) announced today that a four-member review committee has narrowed the applicant pool from 86 to 17 for the licensing of new medical cannabis producers. Secretary of Health Retta Ward will now review and determine the number of producers that will receive licenses. This represents the top 20 percent of applications submitted. Secretary Ward is expected to make a final decision about which applicants will be licensed in the next 30 days.
Following a May 1 submission deadline, the committee, made up of DOH employees, began reviewing the applications. The committee evaluated the applications based upon the applicant’s Production Plan, Business Plan, Sales and Distribution Plan, Security Plan, Quality Assurance Plans, Financial and Organizational Information, Personnel Materials and Agricultural and Production Experience.
Producer information is currently confidential pursuant to Department rule at Section 7.34.4.26 NMAC. As the secretary directed, applicants who were not among the top 20 percent will be notified by DOH.
At the direction of Governor Susana Martinez for more transparency in the Medical Cannabis Program, DOH is working on a rule change to remove the confidentiality requirements that apply to LNPPs. The DOH anticipates publication of the proposed rule changes, and conducting a public hearing sometime this fall.
Currently, there are 16,700 patients in the program, and 21 qualifying conditions.
Information from NMDOH