The 3rd Annual New Mexico Medical Cannabis Conference, hosted by The Verdes Foundation, is scheduled for Sunday, March 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the UNM Student Union Building.

The 2019 New Mexico Medical Cannabis Conference features national doctors and experts in the medical cannabis field. They share researched-based education about a variety of cannabis topics that will benefit patients, health care practitioners and the community at large.

The Conference features a number of relevant discussions centered around medical cannabis  including keynote speaker, Tiffany Bowden, who presents a talk titled “Rebranding The War on Drugs.” Bowden traces the history of cannabis campaigns and intentional spread of misinformation. She will also discuss implications of research suppression, distinction of plant classifications and components, treatment options, legalization by political party trends and the effects of criminalization of minorities in our country.

Bowden is the founding president and co-founder of the Minority Cannabis Business Association and co-owner of Comfy Tree Enterprises. Her keynote is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the SUB Ballroom.

A panel discussion titled "Cannabis and the Law,” featuring Rachael Speegle & Tina Muscarella Gooch will dive into what protections our community has regarding cannabis and its use in New Mexico. They will discuss the rights medical cannabis patients have as well as non-patients. The panel is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the SUB Ballroom.

Speegle has developed care plans for medical cannabis programs all over the Country and works hand-in-hand with patients and providers to ensure the highest level of safety and efficacy. Gooch is a lawyer with more than 10 years of legal experience, representing clients in areas such as cannabis law, employment law, construction law and constitutional law.

Ben Daitz, professor of Family and Community Medicine at the UNM School of Medicine, and an attending physician at the University Hospital’s multidisciplinary pain clinic, presents a film screening titled, The Medicine in Marijuana film screening and Q&A. The screening takes place in SUB Ballroom C from 3:20 to 4:20 p.m.

Other presentations at the conference include:

  • “What is the Entourage Effect? Why Does it Matter?”
  • "Selecting the Best Medical Cannabis Products from a Father’s Perspective”
  • “Medical Cannabis: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Management; Should CBD be Considered a First-Line Therapy for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Pain”
  • “How to Grow Seminar”
  • Plus health and cannabis exhibitors throughout the day!

Additionally, for physicians, Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit is offered in the community at no charge through the UNM Department of Family and Community Medicine. The topic, “HERO TRAILS Chronic Non-Cancer Pain management and Safe Opioid Prescribing,” will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the SUB.

The CME portion is separate from the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Conference and requires its own registration.

For more information on the conference and to register, visit NM Medical Cannabis Conference.

Proceeds from the conference benefit the UNM Medical Cannabis Research Fund.