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Friday News Roundup: New Mexico To Address Medical Marijuana Shortage

New Mexico To Address Medical Marijuana Shortage - The Associated Press

The demand for medical marijuana in New Mexico has outpaced production, and now state health officials have a plan for tackling the shortage. The Department of Health announced two proposals Friday. One calls for increasing the limit that producers can have from 150 plants and seedlings to 150 mature plants and up to 300 seedlings. The other proposal calls for opening the application process to add as many as 12 licensed, nonprofit growers. There are currently 23 licensed growers in the state. The department will hold a public hearing this spring to formally propose the necessary rule changes. Health Secretary Retta Ward also accepted an advisory board's recommendation to add Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease to the list of qualifying conditions for New Mexico's medical marijuana program.

 
  Governor Signs Bill To Expedite Nurse Licensing - The Associated Press

Gov. Susana Martinez has signed into law a measure to expedite licensing of nurses who move to New Mexico from other states.

The new law takes effect in July and requires the Board of Nursing to issue a license within five days of determining that a nurse's application is complete and approved.

Martinez asked the Legislature to streamline the licensing system for nurses who come to New Mexico from more than two dozen states that aren't part of a compact providing for multistate licensure of nurses.

The governor signed the bill during an appearance in Farmington.

The measure was among 91 bills passed by the Legislature during a recently completed 30-day session. The governor has until March 12 to sign or veto legislation.

 

Wet, Windy Weather On Tap For New Mexico - The Associated Press 

After marching through one of the driest winters the state has seen in over a century, Mother Nature is providing drought-stricken New Mexico with some snow and rain.

The state Department of Transportation reports fair and difficult driving conditions on some northern New Mexico highways early Friday due to snow, and the National Weather Forecast is forecasting abundant moisture and gusty winds through the weekend.

Winds of up to 55 mph are expected to move into eastern and western New Mexico by Saturday and high mountain snows are possible Saturday night through Sunday.

Minus the wind, farmers, ranchers and residents tired of the dry conditions are excited about any change in the weather.

Still, water managers say the storm is not expected to boost snowpack levels now far below normal.

 

University Of New Mexico To Celebrate Its 125th Birthday - The Associated Press

The University of New Mexico is celebrating its 125th birthday.

The school is scheduled Friday to pay homage to the 125th anniversary of the university opening its door.

Students are expected to celebrate the occasion with cake and UNM President Bob Frank is slated to give a State of the University address.

UNM opened Feb. 28, 1889, as a red brick building on a mesa by order of territorial lawmakers.

Officials say the university's anniversary celebration will continue throughout the year.