HEARING PLANNED ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Since the state's medical-marijuana law took effect in July, 50
patients with debilitating health conditions have received permission
to grow, possess and use this otherwise illegal drug.

"They're very, very sick people," said Dr. Steve Jenison, the
program's medical director at the Health Department, who is pleased
the law isn't being used as it has been in some other states.

The patients carry special identification cards and have protection
from prosecution under state, but not federal, law. Their identity is
kept secret, unless a member of law enforcement calls the Health
Department to verify whether a person is on the registry.

The Health Department, which administers the program, is taking steps
to formalize rules that govern the patient registry and the medical
advisory board, a group of eight physicians that oversees the program.

On Monday in Santa Fe, the public can express its views at a hearing
about two proposed rules.

One proposal concerns the patient identification card system. Under a
temporary provision, patients and caregivers approved by the state
have been allowed to possess up to 6 ounces of marijuana, four hemp
plants and three seedlings -- what the Health Department describes as
a three-month supply.

The proposed rule would change that to 6 ounces of marijuana, four
hemp plants and four seedlings, Jenison said.

The other rule concerns the medical advisory board. Under this rule,
the board would have the power to review petitions from people who
want to use marijuana as medicine but don't have one of the physical
conditions described in the law. The board would have the power to
approve other conditions, although the health secretary would have the
final say.

Currently, qualifying conditions are cancer, glaucoma, multiple
sclerosis, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with
intractable spasticity, epilepsy and HIV/AIDS. Hospice-care patients
with a terminal illness also are listed in the statute.

At this time, the Health Department has not worked out a
state-sanctioned, secure production and distribution system, as
outlined in the second phase of the law. Currently, patients must
obtain marijuana through the black market.

The Health Department's attorneys are researching possible ways to
give patients access to a regulated marijuana product, but this is
territory where no state has gone before. Even though 12 states now
have medical-marijuana laws, the controlled substance is not
recognized on the federal level as a medicine.

Erin Armstrong, who has thyroid cancer, lobbied for New Mexico's
medical-marijuana law for years and continues to watch over its
implementation. She now lives in San Francisco, but she plans to
attend Monday's public hearing.

"I think there's still work to be done," said the 26-year-old
activist, whose mother is cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Aging
and Long-Term Services Department.

She wants the program to be patient-centered and health-oriented. Part
of that means providing a safe supply of marijuana that is of
consistent quality, she said. "That's what makes the program
unique," she said.

Armstrong also said the state could do a better job of informing
patients about the legal privileges and limitations of the program.
She was alarmed to hear the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, on a tip,
raided the home of a medical-marijuana patient in southeastern New
Mexico.

Although Armstrong has suffered from chronic nausea in the past, she
said her symptoms have quieted down and she doesn't use medical marijuana.

For more information about the Medical Cannabis Program, visit
www.nmhealth.org or call 827-2321.

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IF YOU GO

a.. What: Public hearing on two proposed rules for the Health

b.. Department's Medical Cannabis Program

c.. When: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday

d.. Where: Harold Runnels Building, 1190 St. Francis Drive

e.. More information: To read proposed rules, see the attachment to
this article.

f.. Written comments can be sent by email to the Health Department at
brian.royer@state.nm.us.