(Forbes) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some medical marijuana growers in New Mexico say proposed changes to the state’s program, which include new fees imposed on producers, weren’t adequately considered and would destroy small-scale licensed growers.
The agency now proposes an annual fee based on how long a grower has operated, ranging from $5,000 for producers licensed for less than a year up to $30,000 for those licensed for more than three years.
Producers also are upset the state did not propose raising the current limit on the amount of medical marijuana they can have – 95 mature plants and seedlings and enough inventory of medical marijuana to meet the needs of current patients.
Growers contend the limit is not enough to handle the more than 2,800 active patients the state has licensed. New Mexico has 17 growers, six of them licensed just last month.
Producers suggested increasing the limit to 200 plants or more.
Seventeen growers are supposed to handle 2,800 patients? That’s 165 patients per grower. If a grower is limited to 95 plants, then that’s close to four plants for every seven patients… assuming that every 95-plant crop makes it to harvest. There’s no way you can maintain adequate supplies of medicine for patients with those figures.
I understand the 95-plant limit is to avoid federal scrutiny; over 100 plants triggers a mandatory minimum that makes it worthwhile to prosecute. So the only other solution is to allow for more than just 17 licensed growers. That’s going to be much more difficult when on top of the start-up costs for a decent professional grow the applicant has to shell out $5,000 in fees.
Contact your elected representatives and urge them to 'Stop Arresting Marijuana Smokers'. 
My husband has suffered from Terrible daily Migraines for over 10 years. He is disabled due to them. We have been talking about moving to a warmer, medical Marijuana State. We have thought about New Mexico…was wondering if he would be able to get a medical use card there?
Has the state already began enforcing the $5000 to $30,000 grower license fees?
When you consider the 165 patients a grower has, then consider that after 3 years – that grower is going to change their prices to ensure their patients pay for the $30,000 fee they were just levied by the state, then each patient will have to fork over at or about $200 each (some will have to pay for others because some have too low of an income to afford it).
So – in comes “NEW” grower guy – who’s only been in business for 1 year – his medicine is “less” because his fee is only $5,000 (his patients each pay a $30 fee).