Patients in New Mexico's Medical Cannabis Program spent more than $31 million on their medication in April, May and June of this year, according to second-quarter reports submitted by producers to the state Health Department.

While most nonprofit medical marijuana producers made profits, 12 of them — more than a third of the licensed producers in the state — reported being in the red when it comes to net profits for the quarter. Five of those reported losses of $100,000 or more. Shift New Mexico, which has one store each in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, reported the biggest net loss in the second quarter: $195,472.

Patients in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program spent more than $31 million on their medication in April, May and June of this year, according to second-quarter reports submitted by producers to the state Health Department.

Some of the highest revenue numbers come from medical marijuana producers doing business in Santa Fe. These include Minerva Canna Group, which has a total of four stores around the state; Sacred Garden, which has dispensaries in three cities; and Fruit of the Earth Organics, whose sole dispensary is on Early Street near downtown Santa Fe.

While most nonprofit medical marijuana producers made profits, 12 of them — more than a third of the licensed producers in the state — reported being in the red when it comes to net profits for the quarter.

Legalizing and taxing recreational marijuana like Colorado and Washington could raise tens of millions of dollars in revenue for New Mexico's state government, according to one think tank's estimates.

The Tax Foundation projects a 15 percent retail tax on cannabis could raise about $34 million for the state in a year while a 25 percent tax could raise about $57 million.

The numbers are broad estimates based on the demand seen in a few of the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational use. And the Washington, D.C.-based think tank said those figures could be conservative as the industry matures and grows.

Ten-year old Anthony Brick can't do schoolwork without the help of medical marijuana, but his school won't let him attend class because of his medication, writes Calvin Hughes.

According to Representative Steve Pearce, New Mexico can't afford "to pay for more drug addiction, more jails, and more law enforcement."

In a statement last week, Republican Congressman Steve Pearce of New Mexico — a candidate in the state’s current race for governor — suggested that relatively poor states could not afford to legalize marijuana. "I do not see how in combating poverty you can put one more obstacle in front of people who are struggling to get out of poverty," he said, "so I don't see where I would support recreational marijuana."

This state now has over 50,000 medical marijuana patients, thanks to improvements making it easier for veterans and seniors to access treatment.

According to New Mexico’s Department of Health, the state’s medical marijuana program receives hundreds of patient applications each day.

But recent changes to the patient application process have made it even easier to apply for medical cannabis in New Mexico. And thanks to the more straight-forward application, this state now has over 50,000 medical marijuana patients.

The City of Albuquerque is one step closer to reducing the penalties for the possession of small amounts of cannabis.

City councilors voted 5-4 Monday night to replace the current ordinance that allows for possible jail time for cannabis possession with a $25 fine.

Now it’s up to Mayor Tim Keller to make it official.

Under current city law, possession of an ounce or less of cannabis could result in a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail for a first offense and a possible $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for repeat offenses.Councilor Cynthia Borrego was the only Democrat to vote against the proposal.

With Vermont just having legalized cannabis through its state legislature for the first time in the history of marijuana reform, the precedent has been set for other states without ballot initiatives to do the same.

New Mexico, however, has a system in place whereby legislators can legalize cannabis themselves, or they can vote to allow citizens to do it through a constitutional amendment.   

If New Mexico were to legalize cannabis through a constitutional amendment, the legislature would first have to approve a resolution that would go onto a ballot for consideration by the people.

This resolution for the ballot, however, requires a higher threshold of votes within the legislature than an ordinary bill.

One school of thought is that cannabis, or marijuana, is relatively benign and ought to be legalized, regulated and taxed to spur economic growth and end the harm caused by criminalization.

An opposing viewpoint is that it’s a dangerous drug that needs to re-main unavailable legally, with criminal punishment of those who break the law.

New Mexico could become the first state to officially recognize cannabis as an effective alternative to opioid painkillers – if activists succeed in getting opioid use disorder (OUD) added to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, that is, writes Tess Allen.

It’s a tall order. Several states – including Nevada, Maine and even New Mexico itself earlier this year – have rejected bids to have opiate addiction accepted as a condition for cannabis use.