Last July, New Mexico lawmakers passed Senate Bill 406, an amendment to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act (“LECUA”), in which the language for a qualified patient was changed from having to be a “New Mexico resident” to just having to be “a person.”
Although this amendment went into effect last July, it took a judge to hand down a court order ordering the New Mexico Department of Health (“NMDOH”) to abide by the word of law and to start issuing cards to out-of-states patient that qualified as a patient under the LECUA with one of the State’s approved conditions.
Since the NMDOH started issuing medical cannabis cards to qualifying out-of-state patients, approximately 420 out-of-state residents have been accepted into the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program. Yes, that number is a real number – of course we can give or take a few.
The amendment that changed the language was introduced by New Mexico Senator Gerald (“Jerry”) Ortiz y Pino.
Now fast forward to last week. Senate Bill 139 – An Act relating to medical cannabis; amending a section of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act to limit the definition of “Qualified Patient” to residents of New Mexico; declaring an Emergency has been filed… by Senator Ortiz y Pino.
This bill will again amend the language, changing the definition of a qualified patient back to “New Mexico resident” from “a person”, so that it will only be open to those that are New Mexico residents again. This will eliminate the ability for out-of-state residents to become patients in the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program under the LECUA.
I’ve said it once, and I will say it again – A patient is a patient regardless of what state they reside in. If passed, this bill will send these 420 +/- out-of-state patients back to the streets and black market. That seems counterproductive, if you ask me. Not only that, but New Mexico currently has a legalization bill filed in their legislature. They are trying to kick out-of-state patients out of the program, and not allow anymore in, at the same time that they are trying to pass a recreation cannabis bill – to allow out-of-state residents to come over and freely enjoy recreational cannabis. Say what?
Now there is work to be done. I call on all patients that are out-of-state card holders to call Senator Ortiz y Pino’s office and demand that this bill be taken off the table. Share your story and let him know what being a New Mexico medical cannabis card holder has done for you.
Capitol Phone: (505) 986-4482
Email: jortizyp@msn.com
