State Jurisdiction: New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), Medical MJ Program

Address: Medical MJ Program
New Mexico Dept. of Health
PO Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502

Contact Details: 

Phone: 505-827-2321 

Fax: 505-476-3025

Email: medical.cannabis@state.nm.us

Website: New Mexico Medical MJ Program

Registering for the New Mexico Medical MJ Program

All patients are required to have a recommendation from a licensed mj physician before they can start their application for a New Mexico medical mj card. After receiving your signed medical mj certification, you may begin your registration with the New Mexico Medical MJ Program.

Take note of the following application criteria:

  • Adult patients must be at least 18 years old to apply.

  • Minor patients may designate a caregiver, such as one of their parents, to apply on their behalf. Patients under 18 must also attach a completed Medical Power of Attorney or legal guardianship document to indicate legal authority.

  • Before you meet with your recommending doctor, you need to print out and complete the New Mexico DOH Patient Information form.

  • You must be a New Mexico resident with proof of residency. For example, a state-issued driver’s license or a New Mexico State ID Card.

  • Along with their physician-issued medical recommendation and valid form of ID, all patients must pay a state application fee of $50

  • Out-of-state patients holding a valid medical card can purchase medical mj products through the New Mexico state reciprocity program. 

How to Get Your Medical MMJ Card in New Mexico

With knowledge about the New Mexico medical card requirements, how do you go about getting your New Mexico medical card? Additionally, what does the New Mexico MJ program require from applying patients?

Getting your MMJ Recommendation

To get a New Mexico medical mj card, patients must first get a recommendation from an approved medical mj doctor in NM. 

In New Mexico, it’s required that a patient meets in person with their doctor for their first appointment. Later, the patient can have future visits online through telehealth.

  1. To start, patients should sign-up with QuickMedCards and book an in-person appointment with one of our compassionate and professional mj doctors in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  2. Next, patients should download, print, and fill out the New and Returning Medical MJ Patient Application. Important: patients need to take their application form with them to their appointment.
  3. Following the appointment, the medical mj doctor will sign their application form if they approve the patient for medical MJ treatment. 
  4. The last step involves patients sending or mailing their application with all the required documents to the Department of Health Medical MJ Program.

How to Qualify for the New Mexico Medical MJ Program

There are currently 28 qualifying conditions for a medical card in New Mexico. Some of the qualifying conditions include:

It is worth mentioning that patients can have their medical condition added to the qualifying conditions if a qualified physician believes medical MJ will ease their symptoms. The recommending doctor can petition the New Mexico Medical Advisory Board to add the medical condition to the qualifying conditions should suffice.

A Brief History of the New Mexico Medical MJ Program

In 1978, New Mexico ventured into unchartered territory when it became the first state to pass legislation allowing the medical use of mj. But, it wasn’t until 2007, with the passing of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, that New Mexico finally legalized medical m. The purpose was to enable the beneficial use of medical mj to relieve symptoms caused by debilitating conditions and their medical treatment in a controlled environment. As a result, the Medical MJ Program (MCP), overseen by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), was established. Afterward, the NMDOH promulgated the rules of the MCP in 2008 and further revised those rules in 2010.

Medical MJ Laws in New Mexico (NM)

Although a New Mexico medical mj card provides legal protection to patients when handling medical mj, there are still rules patients must follow; or their status as an approved patient may fail to protect them from prosecution or arrest. Some of the New Mexico medical mj laws include:

  • Approved patients may not exceed the legal possession limit of 8 ounces of flower or bud.
  • Although patients with a Personal Production License (PPL) can plant mj for their use, they may not grow more than 16 plants, with a maximum of 4 mature flowering plants at any given time.
  • Patients and primary caregivers may not sell medical mj to other patients or primary caregivers, but they can transfer up to 2 ounces of mj.
  • Approved patients cannot use medical mj at a public park, recreation center, workplace, or other public places.
  • Finally, patients cannot operate a vehicle while under the influence of mj.

New Mexico Medical MJ Card

Learn all you need to know about what it means to be a medical mj patient in New Mexico. 

Check out how to get a medical mJ card in New Mexico for extensive information on obtaining a med card, renewing it, as well as any other questions that you might have.

New Mexico (NM) Dispensary List

New Mexico is a shining example of both diversity and accessibility when it comes to its dispensary locations. Albuquerque and Santa Fe naturally represent the most dispensary-populated areas, with over 45 dispensaries in Albuquerque and 13 dispensaries in Santa Fe. 

For a complete account of the registered dispensaries in New Mexico, check out Potguide’s comprehensive list of licensed mj establishments.