Quote Originally Posted by sunthenovice
I attended and testified at the DOH hearing last week. I understand there will be people who will disagree with my testimony which I am reprinting below. I don't pretend to have all the answers. For those who have a different point of view I'm willing to listen and engage in civil discourse. Ultimately, I believe that if the patients in this program are united, we have the power to influence both the DOH and the licensed providers. If at some point in time that means a boycott of the LNPP's, so be it.


As a patient in the Medical Marijuana Program, I thank you for allowing my voice to be heard. I ask for your patience as my condition is such that I only leave my apartment on rare occasions due to the severe and overwhelming anxiety I experience in public. To speak in a forum such as this pushes me far beyond what I would call a comfortable mental or physical state. I would ask that you excuse me if I stutter, stammer, or am unable to complete my statement.
While I have read the changes proposed by the New Mexico Department of Health regarding the Medical Cannabis Program, I regret that I have not had the opportunity to research the impact of these proposals to where I would feel competent addressing them in a lucid and productive discourse. Fortunately for all involved, there are others present who have studied the proposals at length and will speak more eloquently about these topics than I. This much I will say: What the Department of Health is proposing in giving the Secretary what appears to be all-encompassing determination regarding nearly all aspects of the Medical Cannabis Program is at best shortsighted and at worst, criminal.
So if I have nothing to add to this discussion, you may ask what would compel me to leave the safe environment of my home in Albuquerque to attend this hearing? My response is this: I am here to support the patients in this program of which I am one. I am here to support those patients who due to severe and debilitating conditions are unable to attend in person. I am here to support those patients who canā??t afford their medication due to the unreasonable costs of the product. While it is easy to point to the New Mexico Department of Health as the villain in the price gouging for legitimate medication, the licensed producers are just as culpable in this charade. I know there are groups who help individuals who canā??t afford medication and I thank them for that. But we must have significantly lower prices for ALL patients. Instead we have the Department of Health and licensed providers fighting over who is going to get what part of the patients money. As in many cases, non-profit is a misleading term. In addition to addressing the financial and covetous deportment of the DOH at this hearing, we should be debating salary limitations on the providers in order to effectively lower the cost of medication for ALL patients.
I have been in this Program for nearly one year and I canā??t afford my medication. I am currently on disability from my chosen occupation. I am not receiving nor am I asking for ANY state or federal assistance. Neither the State of New Mexico nor the Federal Government pay one dime of my disability income. If I were to buy Medical Cannabis through the approved dispensaries I would not be able to pay my rent or feed myself. The fact is, one ounce of Medical Marijuana purchased through the approved providerā??s costs more than one monthā??s rent for me.
I would like to believe that between the Department of Health and the licensed providers there are some human beings who are involved in this program for altruistic reasons. But I will state unequivocally, that both entities primary interest is to make money off the backs of patients in the program. Anyone who has done research into the growing of marijuana knows that the percentage of profit margin for providers is potentially far beyond what is morally acceptable when it comes to patientā??s medication. If they say this is untrue then they are either incompetent or liars. But what I find most insulting is that I received no less than two emails from each licensed provider in New Mexico pleading for my attendance at this hearing to support their positions. In other words, you asked me and every patient in the New Mexico program to come and support you while you financially rape me and my brethren.
Let me be clear. I support the patients. I condemn the DOH for the temerity to suggest these new proposals, which to a political layman such as myself, appear to grant total and unfettered control of this program to one person or committee without a modicum of oversight or grounds for appeal. And to the providers, you should be embarrassed to think that as patients we are naĆÆve enough to support your self-serving agenda.
Shame on both of your houses for taking advantage of my brothers and sisters who through no fault of their own canā??t defend themselves against the machinations of this system.

Thank you

GREAT POST!!!!!