Yes, medical marijuana is legal in New Mexico. The state legalized medical marijuana in April 2007 through Senate Bill 523 (the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act). This Bill allowed persons diagnosed with specific medical conditions to use marijuana products. In line with the provisions of Senate Bill 523, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is responsible for administering the state's medical cannabis program. In April 2019, New Mexico's medical marijuana program was expanded through Senate Bill 406 which increased the number of qualifying medical conditions for medical marijuana treatment. It also permitted medical marijuana patients from other states to access cannabis products in New Mexico, once they have secured their reciprocal participant card which is valid for one year.
Visit your Medical Provider: Schedule an appointment with your medical provider to obtain a medical marijuana certification. The visit can be scheduled online through telemedicine or in person.
Commence your Medical Marijuana Card Application: Your healthcare provider will initiate your patient application based on their assessment.
Complete your part of the Medical Marijuana Card Application: Create and verify your account on the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program (MCP) patient portal. Log in to your account and navigate to the "Applications" tab. Follow the prompts and upload the required documentation
According to Senate Bill 406, medical marijuana patients issued registry identification cards under the New Mexico medical cannabis program may purchase marijuana products from licensed dispensaries. Also, registered caregivers may obtain cannabis products from registered medical marijuana dispensaries on behalf of their patients. The qualifying health conditions for medical marijuana treatment in New Mexico in 2024 include:
Yes, applications for New Mexico medical cannabis cards can only be made online since the program stopped accepting paper Applications in April 2023. Qualifying patients are also allowed to obtain medical marijuana certifications from their medical providers via telemedicine.
You can register with the New Mexico medical cannabis program by obtaining a medical cannabis recommendation from a qualified New Mexico medical provider and submitting an online application to the New Mexico Department of Health.
Yes, you must reside permanently in New Mexico to be eligible for a state-issued medical cannabis card.
New Mexico medical marijuana identification cards are free. Therefore, persons applying for their patient or caregiver identification cards are not required to pay application fees to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH).
Registered medical marijuana patients in New Mexico are required to show their medical marijuana registry identification cards and valid government-issued photo identification when visiting medical cannabis dispensaries to buy cannabis products. Medical marijuana dispensaries in the state usually verify the identities of buyers and their registration with the New Mexico medical cannabis program before dispensing marijuana products to them.
The provisions of Senate Bill 406 require persons applying for medical marijuana cards under the New Mexico medical cannabis program to consult with certified healthcare practitioners before submitting their applications. A healthcare practitioner may issue a patient with written certification for medical marijuana if they consider medical cannabis treatment beneficial for the patient based on their professional opinion. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) does not provide a registry of approved certifying medical practitioners for medical marijuana treatment in the state. However, before a healthcare practitioner can certify a patient for medical marijuana treatment under the New Mexico medical marijuana program, they must be licensed to prescribe and administer controlled substances in the state.
In New Mexico, minors diagnosed with qualifying medical conditions may use marijuana products for medical purposes if their parents or legal guardians permit this treatment option. According to the provisions of Senate Bill 406, patients below younger than 18 may use marijuana for medical reasons on school premises under the supervision of a legal guardian, parent, or designated school personnel. Before a medical practitioner can recommend medical marijuana for a minor, they must explain the potential risks and benefits of medical marijuana treatment to the patient's parent or legal guardian. Furthermore, in line with the provisions of Senate Bill 406, the parent or legal guardian of a minor for whom medical marijuana is recommended is required to provide a written note to:
Yes. Upon turning 18, minors participating in the New Mexico medical marijuana program can apply for their medical marijuana cards as adults. This means that they will no longer require the consent of their custodial parents or legal guardians and do not need to designate caregivers in their applications.
In June 2023, the New Mexico Department of Health changed the validity of medical marijuana registry identification cards. They will expire after two years and will require renewal after. A registered medical marijuana patient may renew their cannabis registry identification card online or by mail. To renew online, a cardholder should visit their profile on the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) medical cannabis program online portal and complete the renewal process. Persons renewing their medical marijuana registry identification cards by mail should complete the New Mexico medical marijuana program patient application/renewal form and mail them with the required documents to the NMDOH at:
New Mexico Department of Health
Medical cannabis program
Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110
Also, New Mexico medical marijuana registry card renewal applicants may submit their applications at the NMDOH's drop-box during regular working hours on weekdays at:
New Mexico Department of Health
Medical cannabis program
1474 Rodeo Road, Suite 200
Santa Fe, NM 87505
According to Section 7.34.4.8(A)(1) of the New Mexico Administrative Code, registered medical marijuana patients with personal production licenses can grow up to four mature cannabis plants and 12 cannabis seedlings for personal use. Registered medical marijuana caregivers may also obtain personal production licenses which allow them to cultivate marijuana plants on behalf of registered medical marijuana patients in the state. Per Section 7.34.4.21 of the New Mexico Administrative Code, registered medical marijuana patients and caregivers with personal production licenses may cultivate cannabis plants indoors or outdoors. The cultivation areas must be hidden from streets and other public areas and they must be secured to restrict access by minors (persons under 18 years) and other unauthorized individuals.
The New Mexico medical cannabis card allows patients to purchase up to 15 ounces or 425 units of medical cannabis over 90-day periods. This is a higher purchase limit compared to recreational marijuana patients, who are only allowed to buy no more than 2 ounces of weed, 800 milligrams of edibles, or 16 grams of cannabis extracts. The card also serves as legal proof of authorization to possess cannabis in the state. Medical cannabis cardholders are exempted from paying the excise tax charged on recreational cannabis in the state. Therefore, medical marijuana cardholders are able to buy marijuana at cheaper costs.
The New Mexico medical cannabis program allows registered medical marijuana patients to designate caregivers by themselves. According to Section 7.34.4.7 of the New Mexico Administrative Code, a medical marijuana caregiver is a person who is responsible for managing a medical marijuana patient's well-being with respect to their use of marijuana products. They assist the patient in administering cannabis products and growing marijuana plants for personal use. Medical marijuana caregivers are required to register with the New Mexico medical cannabis program and obtain registry identification cards in order to operate legally in the state. For a person to qualify as a medical marijuana caregiver in New Mexico, they must be a resident of the state and be 18 years or older. A registered medical cannabis caregiver in New Mexico may manage up to four medical marijuana patients at once.
Yes, a medical marijuana patient with proof of authorization from a medical marijuana program outside of New Mexico (a state in the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory in the United States, or a New Mexico Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo) can buy medical cannabis from licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.
Reciprocal patients must present a valid government ID and an active medical cannabis card or document from the same state as the identification provided. A reciprocal patient will be issued a New Mexico Reciprocal Patient ID upon their first visit to a New Mexico medical cannabis dispensary. All three forms of identification must be available when reciprocal patients visit dispensaries to make purchases.
Note that reciprocal patients may have qualifying conditions not currently approved for medical cannabis patient status in New Mexico.
According to SB 523, medical marijuana records maintained by the Department of Health are confidential and not subject to disclosure, except:
No. Since marijuana has not been legalized federally in New Mexico, insurance companies do not cover medical marijuana costs. Also, the State of New Mexico does not require insurers to cover medical marijuana costs.
The New Mexico medical cannabis card allows patients to purchase 15 ounces of dried cannabis, or its equivalent amount in edibles and extract, every 90 days.
Yes, you do not need a medical marijuana card to buy cannabis in New Mexico. Provided you are 21 or older and have a valid government ID, you can purchase cannabis at approved recreational marijuana dispensaries in New Mexico. However, medical marijuana is still required for medical marijuana purchases.