Conditions Improving

Two local men continue to recover from third degree burns they sustained while extracting potent oils from medical cannabis plants at Santa Fe's New MexiCann Natural Dispensary dispensary on July 24.

Nick Montoya, 29, a nationally recognized extraction expert (pictured above, at left), remains hospitalized at the University of New Mexico’s Burn Center, but his condition has been upgraded from critical to serious.

Meanwhile, Aaron Smith, 38 (above, at right), whose hands were burned in the butane explosion, has been released from the hospital and transferred to a rehabilitation center.

NewMexiCann founder Len Goodman told customers this weekend that Montoya has had multiple surgeries and skin grafts but is making progress.

“He looks great. His face was exposed and somehow, miraculously, is intact with a need for a not large graft on his cheek. He seems alert and aware and moving his body around—sometimes [strenuously].  The doctors are hoping to finally be able to do an assessment and a treatment plan early next week,” writes Goodman in a newsletter.

New MexiCann has set up NickMontoyaFund.org, an online website to collect donations to help the men and their families cover expenses.

“Both families have given up work and [are] spending all their time with their injured loved ones supporting and encouraging them in their painful struggles,” writes Goodman. 

Meanwhile, the co-founder of Compassionate Distributors, a medicinal pot grower in Ruidoso and Roswell, died after a battle with cancer. James Denson, one of the state’s original 25 licensed growers, died Friday. In honor of Denson, on Monday, dispensary employees gave patients a free joint and a picture of Denson, who was survived by his wife and two children.  

Santa Fe Reporter