Medical Marijuana Plan Continues to Grow in New Mexico
Governor Bill Richardson has directed the New Mexico Department of Health to continue plans for a state-run medical marijuana program despite worries that his actions could lead to federal prosecutions for drug trafficking.
New Mexico’s state laws allow the use of medical marijuana by patients who are undergoing treatment for chronic conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS.
The issue of medical marijuana remains a highly divisive one. Advocates for medical marijuana say it is very effective for alleviating serious side effects associated with their disease such as easing chemotherapy-induced nausea or reducing seizures caused by brain tumors. Critics of legalized marijuana are concerned about the potential misuse of crops designated as medical marijuana and other potential health risks associated with the drug.
NM is the 12th state to legalize marijuana use for medicinal purposes, but the first one planning to implement a state-licensed production and distribution program for the drug.
For now, critics and advocates alike are keeping a close eye on developments in New Mexico to see how federal prosecutors at the U.S. Department of Justice react to Governor Richardson’s plans.
Source: Associated Press Article in Forbes
Related Links: AARP; Drug Policy Alliance; FOX News; Marijuana Policy Project
Related Podcast: Biobits InDepth - The Science of Medical Marijuana from the University of Utah
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