Many of us interested in expanding access to medical cannabis for qualified patients were hopeful that the New Mexico legislation (which did authorize state-licensed and -monitored production and distribution facilities) would finally create a mechanism to allow newly diagnosed patients to access cannabis when they need it -- not 5-8 months later (the time it takes to grow medically-useful cannabis). Unfortunately, even with the 15 month delay in issuing program regulations, New Mexico's regs will not do that. I sent Governor Richardson a letter yesterday outlining some of the major flaws in their regulations. If any Join Together member is interested, please email me (tracevu@bellsouth.net) and I will be happy to send you a copy. I do hope Governor Richardson and the legislature will intervene now to get this program back on the right track. If any state can show the nation how to do this right, it is New Mexico with its centuries-old experience among Hispanic and Indian communities in using this medicine.

The govenor was told that the State would be on the hook for lawsuits from so-called patients.

I have some questions for the experts in New Mex:)What are the "conditions" which the doctors require one has to use the noble herb? Can it be:( depression, anxiety, how about preventitive medicine-like a vitamin supplement-? The stuff, in my opinion is still to be stepped on, along with certain persecution of the users of it for resons outside of the relief of terminal suffering. It would be much more useful, much less abused if it were totally free for anyone to grow-or to sell-like the tomato or the squash or the fish. Then the government could collect sales and income taxes. People in all walks of life consume it. Mass-hypocrisy is the only force keeping certain people from taking action. The "authorities" have been way out-of-line on this issue since '38, when they stole this basic freedom to chase out the Mexicans and the Africans. One man's poison is another's panacea!

I hope they add a few more conditions arthritis and PTSD are two. How about depression that dos not react to other meds.