The New Mexico Department of Health is seeking public comment on draft rules governing the licensure of medical marijuana producers, distribution and manufacture of cannabis, and patient identification cards.

The proposed regulations provide for two kinds of licensed producers: a qualified patient producing cannabis for personal use; and a nonprofit private entity producing no more than 95 mature plants and seedlings at any time.

The nonprofit must sell marijuana at a consistent price without volume discounts. The number of qualified patients and general public safety will be considered in determining the number and location of approved licenses.

A public hearing on the identification card program will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 8 in the Harold Runnels Auditorium, located at 1190 St. Francis Drive in Santa Fe. Written comments on the proposed regulations may be submitted to Melissa Milam, 1190 St. Francis Drive, Suite S1202 Santa Fe, NM 87502, or to Melissa.Milam@state.nm.us.

The regulations are posted online at http://www.nmhealth.org/marijuana.html.

Since the program began in 2007, the department has approved 169 applications from chronically ill patients who are eligible to receive medical marijuana to seek relief from their pain.