• New Mexico is one of 31 states with a Medical Cannabis Program (MCP).
• The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act (LECUA) became law in 2007. The LECUA allows for the use of medical cannabis to provide New Mexicans with debilitating conditions relief from symptoms relating to these conditions. In New Mexico, there are 22 qualifying conditions to become a patient in the Program.
• Patient enrollment has increased substantially. About 44,000 patients were enrolled in the Medical Cannabis Program at the start of fiscal year 2018. At the beginning of FY19, there were approximately 54,850 patients enrolled. Each week, the Program approves about 1,300 applications then prints and mails patient registry identification (ID) cards to each patient.
• In FY19-Q1, the MCP printed and mailed 99.5% of patient registry ID cards within five business days of an application being approved. The registry ID card is printed shortly after an application is medically approved. The card is mailed within 24 to 72 business hours after printing. MCP can attribute meeting/exceeding the target goal in this area to implementing a streamlined process for the printing of patient registry ID cards.
• During FY19-Q1 the Program managed multiple staff shortages and ensured patients' cards were printed and mailed within five business days.  

• Patients and their families; caregivers
• Advocates
• Licensed non-profit producers (LNPP)
• Medical Cannabis Advisory Board
• Approved couriers, manufacturers, and laboratories
• Legislature
• Medical and Nursing Boards
• Medical practitioner associations
• NMDOH
• State and local law enforcement
• BioTrackTHC

• Hiring additional staff as the demand for identification cards increases.
• Reviewing internal processes and establishing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure printed cards are mailed within 48 hours.

• Maintain and improve internal processes (SOPs) for application approvals and printing. The SOPs will help make sure that printed cards are mailed no later than 48 hours after they are printed.
• Hire new staff as quickly as the hiring process allows.

Q1:

• Post three vacant positions. - Complete - positions were posted and hiring lists were received.
• Mail 95% of all patient registry cards within five business days of application approval. - Completed - 99.5% of all patient registry cards were mailed within 5 business days of application approval.

Q2:

• Interview for three vacant positions.
• Post any vacant positions.
• Mail 95% of all patient registry cards within five business days of application approval.

Q3:

• Post any vacant positions.
• Interview candidates as needed.
• Review streamlined processes and identify ways to make processes more fluid.
• Mail 95% of all patient registry cards within five business days of application approval.

Q4:

• Post any vacant positions.
• Interview candidates as needed.
• Mail 95% of all patient registry cards within five business days of application approval.

Patient enrollment increased markedly over the course of FY18. At the end of FY17, there were 44,403 patients enrolled in the program. At the end of FY18 the Medical Cannabis Program (MCP) reported a total of 54,857 patients enrolled in the program. MCP printed 63,445 cards which includes both new and re-enrolling patients. Program records indicate nearly all patient cards were issued within five days of approval.