Las Cruces Sun-News, 11 Mar 2011 – LAS CRUCES – A police chief, a mayor, a village trustee and eight others, including a Mexican citizen, have been indicted for allegedly trafficking firearms in Do-a Ana and Luna counties to Mexico, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced Thursday. Columbus Chief of Police Angelo Vega, Columbus Mayor Eddie Espinoza and Village Trustee Blas Gutierrez are three the 11 defendants charged in the 84-count federal indictment, which was unsealed Thursday afternoon after two-county raids that began in the early hours Thursday.

Las Cruces Sun-News, 11 Mar 2011 – LAS CRUCES – A police chief, a mayor, a village trustee and eight others, including a Mexican citizen, have been indicted for allegedly trafficking firearms in Do-a Ana and Luna counties to Mexico, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced Thursday. Columbus Chief of Police Angelo Vega, Columbus Mayor Eddie Espinoza and Village Trustee Blas Gutierrez are three the 11 defendants charged in the 84-count federal indictment, which was unsealed Thursday afternoon after two-county raids that began in the early hours Thursday.

Las Cruces Sun-News, 06 Oct 2010 – Officials at the U.S. State Department are recommending that some Merida Initiative money be held back until Mexico shows that it is making more of an effort to control ongoing and escalating violence problems in that country. Merida is a three-year plan that would give Mexico $1.4 billion to help in various phases of the fight against drug cartels. The money is to be given out in phases.

The New Mexican, 29 Sep 2010 – Most Controversial Debate Surrounds Increased Producer Fee A panel that advises the state on medical-marijuana policy voted Wednesday to allow major depression as a qualifying condition. The decision now goes to Dr. Alfredo Vigil, health department secretary. If he agrees, depression would be the 16th medical condition approved for patient medical marijuana use. Others include chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS patients.

DrugSense

Las Cruces Sun-News, 24 Aug 2010 – LAS CRUCES – Daily reports of drug cartel-related killings in Juarez may numb sensitivity to the severity of the situation just across New Mexico’s southern border. There is, after all, an international boundary – lined with miles of fence and patrolled by scores of federal agents – that separates Mexico from the United States.

Daily Lobo, 26 Jul 2010 – New Mexico’s medicinal marijuana program is running dry. The state has only 11 growers to satisfy the demand of the 2,000 patients prescribed cannabis for chronic illness. This position leaves many patients rationing medication or turning to the illegal market, while the state wants to ensure that its program for growing cannabis remains legal, said Len Goodman, executive director of NewMexicann, a nonprofit organization that grows medicinal marijuana.

Silver City Sun-News, 18 Jul 2010 – If not for the press release and subsequent news story, most southwest New Mexico residents wouldn’t know that a new medical marijuana provider has been licensed for Catron County. Which is a good thing. Area residents who are certified to consume cannabis for medical reasons will now be able to obtain their supply without needing to travel to Albuquerque, while the rest of us should notice no difference at all.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 17 Jul 2010 – Medical Marijuana Growers Fault New Mexico For A Big Shortage ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) =AD Len Goodman can’t grow enough marijuana to keep up with demand. He is one of just 11 growers approved by New Mexico to produce pot for all of the state’s 2,000 registered medical marijuana patients, and his customers routinely wipe out his supply. Once a strain of marijuana is harvested, dried and cured, he sends an announcement that patients can place orders, and the pot is usually gone in 24 hours.

Las Cruces Sun-News, 10 Jul 2010 – LAS CRUCES — You won’t likely see a flashing neon sign touting medical marijuana sales between your favorite fast-food joint and the corner pharmacy in Las Cruces any time soon. But high demand for what many claim is a natural remedy to chronic illnesses has led the New Mexico Department of Health to authorize the first nonprofit producer of medical cannabis program in Dona Ana County — one of six additional nonprofit producers for medical cannabis. There are now 11 nonprofits licensed to produce medical cannabis for patients in New Mexico.