First of all, this is NOT the opinion of Budding Hope, BH won't take sides unless it affects the patients. Its more personal opinion based on truth and past experiences than anything really. :thumbsup:

The DOH is the only entity that should operate the program.
The DOH only allows quality producer applications to be approved.
The DOH could use a little coin, and will soon start getting it.
The DOH needs coin to hire so they can expand.
The DOH can't approve more than they can oversee. (important)
The DOH has the patients in mind, not producers. (a great thing)
The DOH must 'meet patient needs'.
The DOH can complete and submit producers applications to desk of the Secretary of Health.
The DOH most likely has complete applications on the desk of the SOH. (important and likely the cause of the suit)
The Secretary of Health simply has to sign them - Its likely the case that she simply isn't signing them.
The DOH isn't obligated to approve every application.
The DOH isn't obligated to approve incomplete or bad applications.
The DOH is obligated(maybe not legally, but they should) to approve complete and solid applications.
The DOH - MCP cannot force the Sec of Health to sign them. (ours sat on Vigil desk for over a month)
:Note the separation of DOH MCP and Secretary of Health:

So, I do understand that these hopeful producers want their license. These hopefuls may have even worked longer on their proposals than some already licensed producers have. I wouldn't doubt it.

But, lets not forget that the patients are the important ones here. If the MCP is not fullfilling 'patient needs', then there is a problem. Its all about 'patient needs' not producer needs. If the Secretary had to sign off on every patient card, and there was a hold up, that would be a problem.

The real issue lies with the administration's control over the Secretary of Health, who is obviously silent on this issue. I do understand them suing Martinez, because she has said that she won't help the program grow. But that is only an issue if producer growth is what is required to 'meet patient needs'. What I don't understand is suing a "certain someone" who is integral in getting producers applications complete, polished, reviewed. I have always felt this 'certain someone' was an asset to the MCP...given the circumstances and conditions.

Questions?
Difficult situation? Not really. If Denish was in office these applications would likely have been approved - a no brainer. But then again, is there a shortage of medical cannabis? Are producers dry? I'm not saying we don't need more producers...but do we need more producers because they want to produce, or because we need supply? They just upped the producer count as well as plant count less than 4 month ago....these December producers probably haven't all opened yet, but will be soon. From the patients standpoint, the best part about having more producers is the possibility of the price of cannabis dropping, which is a reasonable desire and something that some producers and patients wouldn't mind.

As far as a lawsuit weakening the program, I never thought of it that way. But like I said, the patients are the ones who matter. If a lawsuit slows the program down or shifts resources from the patients, I don't like that. Also, this idea that these people are big money 'venture capitalists' I don't believe. Of all licensed producers I have met, none of them seem to be that type.

Just putting my 2 grams in.
BuddingHopeNM Reviewed by BuddingHopeNM on . Have any new Producers been approved since Jan 1? I know there were several new approved producers before Martinez took office, i've heard rumors they may just simply not approve new producers. If so will renewal of existing producers become an issue in Dec? Rating: 5