Group: NM sees $800K in medical cannabis revenue on 4/20

ALBUQUERQUE — An estimated $800,000 in medical cannabis was sold in New Mexico on Thursday, three times the revenue over the same period last April 20, according to figures released Friday by one group.

The group, Ultra Health, reported that 12,400 patients purchased 124 pounds of cannabis and each spent an average of $65 on Thursday, which fell on a day that many considered an international marijuana holiday.

Ultra Health said in the news release that it alone served more than 1,200 patients at its seven locations in New Mexico, earning nearly $80,000 in one-day sales.

“While $800,000 in single-day sales is great progress for the program and the state, particularly in communities with ample choices, the biggest challenge to patients are above market prices due to a lack of adequate supply and failure to approve rural dispensary locations,” Duke Rodriguez, CEO and president of Ultra Health, said in a statement.

Ultra Health said there are 22 dispensaries in Albuquerque. The group said it is seeking approval for 12 amendments for dispensary locations in rural areas, including Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Silver City, Truth or Consequences, Deming, Carlsbad, Sunland Park, Gallup, Socorro, South Valley, Grants and Española.

But the New Mexico Department of Health has not approved or denied these amendments, some of which have been pending for nearly one year, according to the group.

About half of New Mexico counties representing more than 3,200 enrolled patients are without a full-time dispensary. As of March 31, the medical cannabis program had a total of 34,909 patients.

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