New Mexico State Police have the pot; but not the grower. They seized 1,600 marijuana plants, ranging in height from four to six feet, at a ranch not far from Santa Rosa. The street value of the marijuana is estimated to be worth nearly $1 million. The investigation continues in an effort to discover exactly who was planning to harvest the illegal crop.

The New Mexico Department of Health is on the cutting edge of medical marijuana, which is legal in the State but illegal in the eyes of the federal government. Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil says New Mexico needs to keep adjusting to make the program more effective and self-sustaining.

The public is invited to make suggestions at a public hearing in Santa Fe at the end of this month. One change that may be discussed is the possibility of upping the fees for application to become a licensed nonprofit producer.

Other regulations to be discussed include whether or not the State should test the product, and exactly how many seeds a licensed patient may possess at one time. Your Northern New Mexico Newsroom has the inside scoop on the upcoming public prescription pot discussions.

The New Mexico Department of Health will hold a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30 in the Harold Runnels Auditorium in Santa Fe to review proposed changes to the regulations that manage the Department’s Medical Cannabis Program.

Last Thursday, we reported a shortage of medical marijuana. Today, we’re reporting a shortage of the other kind of marijuana. Thanks to the New Mexico State Police, somebody who raises pot an hour or so west of Taos is short 8,000 marijuana plants. The plants were secured yesterday. Nobody has been charged, yet; but their $10 million harvest is going up in smoke.