SENATE BILL 516

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

AN ACT

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS; REVISING THE LYNN AND ERIN COMPASSIONATE USE ACT TO PROVIDE FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS RESEARCH; CREATING THE CANNABIS RESEARCH BOARD; CREATING THE CANNABIS RESEARCH FUND; LIMITING LIABILITY FOR RESEARCHERS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 9-7-17.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2012, Chapter 42, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "9-7-17.1. MEDICAL CANNABIS FUND--REPORTING.--

          A. The "medical cannabis fund" is created in the state treasury. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection E of this section, the fund consists of fees collected by the department [of health] pursuant to the medical cannabis program that the department [of health] administers, income from investment of the fund and income otherwise accruing to the fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of any fiscal year shall revert to the general fund.

          B. The department [of health] shall administer the fund, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department [of health] to support the [department of health's] department's administration of the medical cannabis program; provided that none of the money from the fund shall be used for capital expenditures.

          C. Money in the fund shall be disbursed on warrants signed by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of health or the secretary of health's authorized representative.

          D. The department [of health] shall report annually to the legislative finance committee on medical cannabis fund income and expenditures.

          E. At the end of each month, ten percent of the fees collected by the department pursuant to the medical cannabis program during the previous thirty days shall be transferred to the cannabis research fund."

     SECTION 2. A new section of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] CANNABIS RESEARCH FUND CREATED.--The "cannabis research fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money transferred from the medical cannabis fund, appropriations, income from investment of the fund and money otherwise accruing to the fund. Money in the fund is appropriated to the cannabis research board for the purpose of research related to medical cannabis and provided for in the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act. Money in the fund shall be disbursed on warrants signed by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the chair of the board or the chair's authorized representative. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund."

     SECTION 3. A new section of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] CANNABIS RESEARCH BOARD CREATED--MEMBERSHIP--DUTIES.--

          A. The "cannabis research board" is created. The board is administratively attached to the department and consists of three members who are peer-reviewed, qualified research scientists and clinicians affiliated with a research institution and who are appointed by the secretary of health. Members shall serve five-year terms; provided that at the time of initial appointment, the secretary shall appoint members to abbreviated terms to allow for the terms of subsequent appointments to be staggered. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment.

          B. Of the three members of the cannabis research board:

                (1) one member shall have a doctoral or terminal degree in social or behavioral science;

                (2) one member shall have a doctoral or terminal degree in biomedical science; and

                (3) one member shall be a practitioner.

          C. The secretary of health shall name the chair of the cannabis research board.

          D. Members of the cannabis research board shall be reimbursed pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance for their service on the board.

          E. The cannabis research board shall:

                (1) keep a record of board meetings;

                (2) keep a record that identifies researchers who are conducting research pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act and whose research is overseen by the board;

                (3) distribute documentation to each researcher that identifies the researcher and that states that the researcher is conducting research pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act;

                (4) ensure that research conducted pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act is conducted in accordance with institutional and federal requirements relating to the protection of human subjects and is approved by an institutional review board;

                (5) oversee research conducted pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act into the use, effects and efficacy of medical cannabis; and

                (6) prepare and submit:

                     (a) an annual report to the legislative finance committee that describes expenditures from the cannabis research fund and research conducted pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act during the year preceding the submission of the report; and

                     (b) beginning in 2018 and every three years thereafter, a report to the legislative health and human services committee that describes the research conducted pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, and any findings, reports or publications that resulted from the research."      

     SECTION 4. Section 26-2B-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 210, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "26-2B-1. SHORT TITLE.--[Sections 1 through 7 of this act] Chapter 26, Article 2B NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act" in honor of Lynn Pierson and Erin Armstrong."

     SECTION 5. Section 26-2B-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 210, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "26-2B-2. PURPOSE OF ACT.--The purpose of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act is to allow the beneficial use of medical cannabis in a regulated system for alleviating symptoms caused by debilitating medical conditions and their medical treatments and to provide for research into the uses, effects and efficacy of medical cannabis."

     SECTION 6. Section 26-2B-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 210, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "26-2B-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act:

          A. "adequate supply" means an amount of cannabis, in any form approved by the department, possessed by a qualified patient or collectively possessed by a qualified patient and the qualified patient's primary caregiver that is determined by rule of the department to be no more than reasonably necessary to ensure the uninterrupted availability of cannabis for a period of three months and that is derived solely from an intrastate source;

          B. "debilitating medical condition" means:

                (1) cancer;

                (2) glaucoma;

                (3) multiple sclerosis;

                (4) damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity;

                (5) epilepsy;

                (6) positive status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome;

                (7) admitted into hospice care in accordance with rules promulgated by the department; or

                (8) any other medical condition, medical treatment or disease as approved by the department;

          C. "department" means the department of health;

          D. "licensed producer" means any person or association of persons within New Mexico that the department determines to be qualified to produce, possess, distribute and dispense cannabis pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act and that is licensed by the department;  

          E. "practitioner" means a person licensed in New Mexico to prescribe and administer drugs that are subject to the Controlled Substances Act;

          F. "primary caregiver" means a resident of New Mexico who is at least eighteen years of age and who has been designated by the patient's practitioner as being necessary to take responsibility for managing the well-being of a qualified patient with respect to the medical use of cannabis pursuant to the provisions of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act;

          G. "qualified patient" means a resident of New Mexico who has been diagnosed by a practitioner as having a debilitating medical condition and has received written certification and a registry identification card issued pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act; [and]

          H. "researcher" means a member of the cannabis research board and any person who is conducting or assisting with research pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act; and

          [H.] I. "written certification" means a statement in a patient's medical records or a statement signed by a patient's practitioner that, in the practitioner's professional opinion, the patient has a debilitating medical condition and the practitioner believes that the potential health benefits of the medical use of cannabis would likely outweigh the health risks for the patient. A written certification is not valid for more than one year from the date of issuance."

     SECTION 7. Section 26-2B-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 210, Section 4) is amended to read:

     "26-2B-4. EXEMPTION FROM CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PENALTIES [FOR THE]--MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS--RESEARCHERS.--

          A. A qualified patient shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution or penalty in any manner for the possession of or the medical use of cannabis if the quantity of cannabis does not exceed an adequate supply.

          B. A qualified patient's primary caregiver shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution or penalty in any manner for the possession of cannabis for medical use by the qualified patient if the quantity of cannabis does not exceed an adequate supply.

          C. Subsection A of this section shall not apply to a qualified patient under the age of eighteen years, unless:

                (1) the qualified patient's practitioner has explained the potential risks and benefits of the medical use of cannabis to the qualified patient and to a parent, guardian or person having legal custody of the qualified patient; and

                (2) a parent, guardian or person having legal custody consents in writing to:

                     (a) allow the qualified patient's medical use of cannabis;

                     (b) serve as the qualified patient's primary caregiver; and

                     (c) control the dosage and the frequency of the medical use of cannabis by the qualified patient.

          D. A qualified patient or a primary caregiver shall be granted the full legal protections provided in this section if the patient or caregiver is in possession of a registry identification card. If the qualified patient or primary caregiver is not in possession of a registry identification card, the patient or caregiver shall be given an opportunity to produce the registry identification card before any arrest or criminal charges or other penalties are initiated.

          E. A researcher shall not be subject to arrest or prosecution, penalized in any manner or denied any right or privilege for the production, possession, distribution or dispensing of cannabis if the researcher's production, possession, distribution or dispensing is solely for the purpose of research conducted pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act.

          [E.] F. A practitioner shall not be subject to arrest or prosecution, penalized in any manner or denied any right or privilege for recommending the medical use of cannabis or providing written certification for the medical use of cannabis pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act.

          [F.] G. A licensed producer shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution or penalty, in any manner, for the production, possession, distribution or dispensing of cannabis pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act.

          [G.] H. Any property interest that is possessed, owned or used in connection with the medical use of cannabis, or acts incidental to such use, shall not be harmed, neglected, injured or destroyed while in the possession of state or local law enforcement officials. Any such property interest shall not be forfeited under any state or local law providing for the forfeiture of property except as provided in the Forfeiture Act. Cannabis, paraphernalia or other property seized from a qualified patient or primary caregiver in connection with the claimed medical use of cannabis shall be returned immediately upon the determination by a court or prosecutor that the qualified patient or primary caregiver is entitled to the protections of the provisions of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, as may be evidenced by a failure to actively investigate the case, a decision not to prosecute, the dismissal of charges or acquittal.

          [H.] I. A person shall not be subject to arrest or prosecution for a cannabis-related offense for simply being in the presence of the medical use of cannabis as permitted under the provisions of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act."

     SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2015.

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