A new medical-marijuana law in New Mexico requires the state to grow the drug and provide it to patients -- a first in the U.S. -- the Associated Press reported June 30.

New Mexico this week became the 12th U.S. state to allow residents to use marijuana for medical purposes, but is the only state to establish a mechanism for legal production and distribution of the drug. "The long-term goal is that the patients will have a safe, secure supply that doesn't mean drug dealers, that doesn't mean growing their own," said Reena Szczepanski, director of Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico.

The law calls for the state Department of Health to issue implementation guidelines by Oct. 1. "The production part is unprecedented. ... No other state law does that," said Steve Jenison, who will run the medical-marijuana program for the state health department. "So we're trying to be very thoughtful in how we proceed."

Among the challenges for the state is the fact that marijuana growing and distribution remains illegal under federal law.