New Mexico's new medical marijuana law requires state to grow its own

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: Law Requires N.M. to Grow Its Own Pot
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 30, 2007

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- New Mexico has a new medical marijuana law with a twist: It requires the state to grow its own.

The law, effective Sunday, not only protects medical marijuana users from prosecution -- as 11 other states do -- but requires New Mexico to oversee a production and distribution system for 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 state Department of Health must issue rules by Oct. 1 for the licensing of marijuana producers and in-state, secured facilities, and for developing a distribution system.

The law was passed in March and signed by Gov. Bill Richardson, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Medical-Marijuana.html