It also allows a review board appointed by the Health Department secretary to approve other legitimate medical uses. The board, made up of a psychiatrist, ophthalmologist and oncologist, must approve all applicants and their physicians. Valdez began studying the law last summer after threats of a class action lawsuit by its supporters. It says the administrator shall obtain marijuana. There's no discretion in here in terms of what I must do, and the fact of the matter is we're mandated to have this program in place.
Critics contend medical marijuana is a smokescreen for legalization.
If this is a campaign to figure out a way slide in the closet with this thing, I don't like it at all. Rep. Max Coll of Santa Fe, vice chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee, said he wanted to see the legislation before commenting on the issue. Last Monday, attorney Charlie Knoblauch sued Valdez for nonfeasance and asked the state Supreme Court to force the secretary to provide marijuana for his client, electronics technician Tony Cognetto of Albuquerque, who has non-Hodgkins lymphoma. No hearing has been set. But about three weeks ago it was discovered again, and he's going through intensive chemotherapy right now.