How to Get A New Mexico Medical Marijuana Card
Find a Cannabis-Friendly Doctor
The first step is to find a doctor to certify you. This should be relatively easy, provided you have one of the program’s qualifying medical conditions (see below). It is an extensive list, and patients with a debilitating condition not listed can petition the state to add it.
Your physician must have an account with the NM Department of Health Medical Cannabis Division online portal. They will also need a valid New Mexico Controlled Substance License.
Once your doctor is satisfied that you qualify for medical marijuana, they will input your details into the system and upload your medical records. It is also recommended to upload a copy (jpeg or pdf) of the patient’s NM driver’s license or state ID, although this is not mandatory. If you require a caregiver, your physician will also enter this information during the application process.
Wait for Your Card
As of April 1st, 2023, the program is no longer accepting paper applications unless they are signed and dated by the physician between January 1st and March 31st, 2023. Electronic applications are processed within five business days of being received. You can access an electronic copy of your card as soon as you are approved.
To access your card, you must create an account with the Department of Health Medical Cannabis Division online portal. Use the email address you gave your medical provider, create a password, and enter your details, as they will appear on your card. Once you have submitted your details, wait for the program staff to link your account. This may take 24–48 business hours. You will receive an email when your card is ready.
Log into your account and click the icon in the top-right corner that looks like a driver’s license to access your card.
Visit a Licensed Dispensary
Once you have your card, you can visit a licensed NM dispensary and buy your medicine. You can display your electronic card on your smartphone when making a purchase. You should also bring another form of ID, such as your New Mexico driver’s license or state-issued ID card.
How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in New Mexico
- A Step-by-Step Guide
- Consult a licensed New Mexico physician to confirm your eligibility
- Your physician will upload your details and medical records to the online portal
- Create an account and wait for approval
- Receive your electronic medical marijuana card
- Visit a licensed dispensary and buy your MMJ
New Mexico Medical Marijuana Card Qualifying Conditions
To apply for a medical marijuana card in NM, you must:
- Be a resident of New Mexico
- Have one or more of the qualifying conditions listed below
- Be aged 18+ or have a parent or legal guardian act as a caregiver
Patient Qualifying Conditions
The list of NM medical marijuana card qualifying conditions is reasonably long. Patients can also petition the state’s Medical Advisory Board to add other conditions not already listed if they believe MMJ will help. Currently, NM residents can apply for MMJ if they have one of the following:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- ALS
- Anxiety disorder
- Autism
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Damage to the spinal cord nervous tissue (with an objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity)
- Epilepsy or seizure disorder
- Friedreich’s ataxia
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C infection currently receiving antiviral therapy
- HIV/AIDS
- Hospice care
- Huntington’s disease
- Inclusion body myositis
- Inflammatory autoimmune-mediated arthritis
- Insomnia
- Intractable nausea or vomiting
- Lewy body disease
- MS
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Opioid use disorder
- Painful peripheral neuropathy
- Parkinson’s disease
- PTSD
- Severe anorexia or cachexia
- Severe chronic pain
- Spasmodic torticollis (cervical dystonia)
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Ulcerative colitis
General Guidelines
Medical Marijuana Card Renewal in New Mexico
New Mexico MMJ cards are valid for three years, but patients must submit an annual verification at the end of each year. At the end of the third year, recertification is required. Your card’s expiry date is in the lower-right corner, along with the annual verification dates. You must reverify before each of these dates to keep the card active.
Caregiver Rules
Patients who need help buying, storing, or using their MMJ can appoint a primary caregiver. This person must be named when the physician submits their application to the program. Patients under 18 must have a primary caregiver, who should be a parent or legal guardian.
A Brief History of Cannabis in New Mexico
New Mexico’s first incarnation of a medical marijuana program was the Controlled Substances Therapeutic Act, passed in 1978. However, the program was very restrictive and only provided cannabis to 250 cancer patients between 1978 and 1986.
The MMJ program as it exists today launched in 2007 when Governor Bill Richardson signed Senate Bill 523, known as The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act.
In 2019, the state decriminalized the possession of up to half an ounce of cannabis. Then, in 2021, The New Mexico Cannabis Regulation Act was passed, which allowed adults 21 and over to cultivate, purchase, possess, and consume marijuana legally.
However, there are still restrictions regarding purchase and possession, which we will discuss below.
New Mexico Medical Marijuana Laws and Rules
Adults over 21 can possess up to two ounces of cannabis in New Mexico under recreational law. MMJ patients can possess more, which we will explain in detail below.
Being caught with over two ounces and no MMJ card is a misdemeanor and may result in a year in prison. Possessing over eight ounces is a felony, with up to 18 months imprisonment as the potential punishment.
It is illegal to sell cannabis in New Mexico without a license, and doing so is a felony. However, NM residents can “gift” cannabis to adults over 21 or those over 18 with a valid MMJ card, provided no money, goods, or services are exchanged.
It is legal to grow six mature and six immature plants for personal use, with a maximum of 12 plants per household. Cultivating for non-personal use is illegal without a license and is a felony with a potential prison term of up to nine years.
What Types of Cannabis Products Can I Purchase in New Mexico?
Patients in NM can buy a range of cannabis products, including:
- Dried flower
- Edibles
- Tinctures
- Topicals
How Much Cannabis Can I Buy & Possess?
MMJ patients in NM can buy up to 425 units of cannabis over a rolling 90-day period. One unit is equivalent to 1g of dried flower. Therefore, 425 units are approximately 15 ounces. Alternatively, 200mg of THC (in edible, tincture, or topical form) counts as one unit.
Patients can mix and match products as long as they do not exceed 425 units in 90 days. Your units are tracked every time you make a purchase, and you can check online to see how many you have left for each 90-day period.
Where Can I LEGALLY Purchase MMJ in NM?
You can legally buy cannabis in any state-licensed dispensary. Individuals can also grow up to six mature and six immature plants at home or gift cannabis to another adult without remuneration.
Can I Take My MMJ to a Different State?
Cannabis is federally illegal and cannot be transported across state lines. However, some states have reciprocity with New Mexico, meaning NM cardholders could purchase cannabis out-of-state. Check before traveling to confirm the laws in your destination.
As of 2021, valid MMJ cardholders from other states can purchase medical cannabis in New Mexico.
FAQ About Getting an MMJ Card in NM
Online applications should be processed within five business days. It is possible to access your electronic card as soon as you are approved.
Paper applications take up to 30 days but will no longer be accepted after April 1st, 2023.
Here at MMJ Card Online, we have an exceptionally high approval rate. In the unlikely event you are not approved, we offer a full money-back guarantee. You can still purchase cannabis in NM under the adult use program, although the possession limits are lower.
There is no charge for applying for the program, meaning that the medical marijuana card cost in NM is one of the lowest in the country. However, you will still need to pay physician’s fees, which can be over $200. Get in touch to learn how much you could save by applying with MMJ Card Online.