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opinion editorialsThis editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers
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Monday, November 16, 2009
Release Names of New Medical Pot Suppliers
Release Names of New Medical Pot Suppliers
Having trouble finding a supplier for your legal medical marijuana fix? Not to worry, the state has just increased the number of licensed marijuana suppliers from one to five to meet the needs of the 756 patients licensed to buy medical cannabis.
But the state is refusing to release the names of the four new nonprofit producers. Citing security concerns for growers, the department is sticking with its rule to keep secret the names of the organizations and the people associated with them.
That might be an argument when it comes to patient names or physical locations where the pot is being grown or dispensed, but not when it comes to information that will provide oversight and accountability. That should include the names of licensed producers, the salaries and public tax records of the principals, the names of those who have applied for growers licenses and the people associated with them, statistics showing how the program is working and if anyone — patients, prescribers or producers — is trying to abuse it.
Since this summer, only the Santa Fe Institute for Natural Medicine has been dispensing medical marijuana to qualified patients. The only reason New Mexicans know the institute has been the sole dispenser is because the state Department of Health itself inadvertently released its name. Then last week one of the new licensed producers went public with his plans to distribute medical pot under the name of NewMexiCann. There's little point and less fairness in keeping the names of the other three secret, yet the department continues to keep a lid on all information related to its Medical Cannabis Program.
When asked last week if the names of the new producers would be released, a Health department spokesman said officials would stick with the privacy regulations until they are changed, likely after the upcoming budget-centric legislative session and a public hearing.
Timetables and priorities are all well and good, but New Mexicans should be able to know what kind of organizations and people are legally dispensing what otherwise remains an illegal and controlled substance. Keeping public information about the already controversial program secret only adds to concerns about a worthy effort to ease pain and suffering for people with AIDS, cancer and other debilitating illnesses. This program should be growing in the sunlight, not in a dark closet.
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