How to Get A Medical Marijuana Card In New Mexico

Are you ready to get your medical marijuana card in New Mexico? 

You can see if you qualify for the program in a few quick and easy steps. Follow this guide to streamline the process and get your card asap. 

Keep reading to learn how easy it is to get your NM medical card online.

NM Medical Card

New Mexico Medical Marijuana Program

New Mexico was the first state to enact any type of medical cannabis law; back in 1978. 

In 2007 the state launched its medical card program. This allowed patients with certain medical conditions to use marijuana. In July 2020, there were over 90 thousand active medical patients in New Mexico. 

Originally, patients had to visit a doctor in office to be approved for medical cannabis. Telemedicine became available to patients after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Cannabis Regulation Act in June of 2021. The state MMJ program was originally created by the Lynn and Eric Compassionate Use Act, managed by the Department of Health. 

But, later on the Cannabis Regulation Act created the Cannabis Control Division. 

Now, they oversee the enforcement and regulation of cannabis in the state. They help with licensing and regulations for recreational cannabis and the medical cannabis program. But, the New Mexico patient registry is still maintained by the NM Department of Health. 

New Mexico tries hard to make its program easy to understand and accessible to its patients. They have a comprehensive website with lots of helpful information. It includes links to legislation and rules and regulations for the program. 

The state also has links to many youtube videos. These videos help walk patients through the application process. 

Once you are an approved patient you can purchase anything from a licensed dispensary. This includes raw cannabis flower, edibles, oils, and tinctures to topicals and more. 

New Mexico Medical Card Requirements

Not just anyone can have a medical marijuana card in New Mexico. You need to meet a few basic requirements to join the program

First, you must be a legal resident of New Mexico. You will need to provide legal proof of residency to qualify. 

If you are not a medical patient you need to wait until you are at least 21 to purchase marijuana in this state. However, minors and adults under the age of 21 can apply to the program and gain access to medical marijuana without having to wait. 

You must be 18 years or older to fill out your own application. But minors will need the help of a parent or legal guardian. The legal guardian will assist the minor with their application as a caregiver. 

A caregiver is someone who takes responsibility for helping a medical marijuana patient. They can help with applications and renewals. 

Caregivers can also assist with purchasing and transporting medical cannabis, and they can help to administer it. Any caregivers also need approval from the state health medical cannabis program before they can assist any patients. 

There is no fee for applying to become a primary caregiver. The application just needs to be completely filled out with all the supporting documents. Then the program staff will review the application. 

All application pages need to be the ones with original signatures. The program will not review copied applications. And all of your application items need to be sent in one envelope. 

The caregiver application does not need to be submitted every year when the patient application is re-submitted. Instead, the caregiver application only needs to be submitted once every three years. 

For initial approval, caregivers will need to provide a current mailing address with a completed application. This is the address where they will receive their card. 

A medical certification form for primary caregivers (filled out by the patient’s physician) should be included. If a patient is minor then a clear copy of their birth certificate and completed parental consent form should also be included. And a caregiver will need to provide a clear copy of their New Mexico driver’s license or photo ID. 

The last thing a prospective patient needs for approval is to suffer from one of the qualifying conditions on the N.M. list of approved qualifying conditions. 

New Mexico Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions List

There are 28 approved conditions for which medical marijuana can be prescribed. They are:

  • ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Cancer
  • Chronic pain
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Epilepsy/seizure disorder
  • Friedrich’s ataxia
  • Glaucoma
  • Hepatitis C and currently on antiviral therapy
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Hospice care
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Inclusion body myositis
  • Inflammatory autoimmune-mediated arthritis
  • Intractable nausea/vomiting
  • Lewy body disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Opioid use disorder
  • Painful peripheral neuropathy
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • PTSD
  • Severe anorexia/cachexia
  • Spasmodic Torticollis
  • Spinal cord nerve tissue damage
  • Spinal muscular atrophy
  • Ulcerative colitis

You need a diagnosis of one of these conditions from a licensed physician. With that, you can apply to the program to get your medical marijuana card. 

The New Mexico Department of Health also allows physician recommendations for unlisted conditions. 

This means that physicians can suggest that a patient with an unlisted condition might still benefit from medical cannabis. Then, the patient can petition the Medical Advisory Board to get their condition added. Petitions are accepted for review at any time. 

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card In New Mexico

You can get your New Mexico medical marijuana card in just a couple of steps. 

Start by seeing a physician. You need to find one who is board-certified and licensed to practice in New Mexico. 

They will discuss your medical history to see if you are eligible to use medical cannabis. If you are, they will provide you with a recommendation for the program. 

You can use an online service to connect you directly to a New Mexico-licensed medical marijuana doctor. Then, you can schedule an appointment to meet with them online. 

Or, you can search for a local physician who makes medical marijuana recommendations. Then you can schedule an appointment with them, visit their office, pay any fees, and perhaps miss work to make it all happen. 

In my experience, going the online route is much simpler. And I don’t have to leave the house or change out of my loungewear to make it happen. 

Plus, it is almost always cheaper. And there is a one hundred percent money-back guarantee that comes with the long-established medical marijuana telehealth platforms. So, if for some chance you don’t get approved you don’t get charged anything. 

To get your card just follow this 3 step process below:

1. Consult With An NM Certified Healthcare Professional

Whether you choose to go face-to-face with a local doctor or go the online route, you will consult with a licensed medical marijuana doctor. 

If you do use a telehealth service we recommend choosing Leafwell or Veriheal. They both are backed by excellent customer reviews and they both have full money-back guarantees if you aren’t approved. 

You can meet with a licensed physician for New Mexico starting at $99 through Leafwell. It costs $199 to go through Veriheal

For either service, you just create an account online. Provide your full name, email, and phone number, and accept the terms. Then you can schedule an appointment time that works for you. 

You can help speed up your appointment by providing your medical records. If you don’t provide them beforehand make sure to have them at the time of your appointment. Your physician needs to see them approve any qualifying conditions. 

Make sure to ask them any questions you may have about medical marijuana treatment. 

Most appointments wrap up in about 15 minutes. And you know if you qualify when it’s done. If you do, your physician will sign the second page of the application and you can use it to apply to the state.

2. Complete NM State Application

Now that you have a recommendation you need to complete the state application. To do this, you need to register an account with the New Mexico Department of Health Medical Cannabis Program. 

In your application, you need to provide a clear copy of your driver’s license or photo ID and your clinical note from your physician. Original signatures are required and copies won’t be accepted. 

The state will process your application when they receive all the information. They will notify you if you approve. They will also mail you your card to you.

3. Receive Your NM Medical Card

Your card will arrive in the mail after the state approves you. 

Medical cards in New Mexico are valid for 3 years. But you still need to recertify your need for medical cannabis annually. That means you need to speak with a physician to requalify every year. 

When it comes time to renew your medical card, Leafwell and Veriheal send reminders out to their customers. You can schedule a renewal with them very similar to the initial consultation appointment. 

It is best to start the renewal process early. You should shoot to submit your completed renewal application 30 to 90 days before your card expires.

NM Medical Marijuana Purchase and Possession Limits

A patient is allowed to purchase up to 15 ounces of medical cannabis over a three-month period. 

There are many different forms of medication. Anything sold from a dispensary has to be labeled with the total amount of THC and the number of units in the product. 

A patient can purchase any of the following:

  • concentrates
  • edibles
  • flower
  • pre-rolls
  • capsules
  • tinctures
  • topicals 
  • oils
  • vaporizers
  • wax

Purchases are tracked every time they are made. Dispensaries follow them on a three-month rolling period. When you make a purchase the units bought fall off of the total available units in 90 days. 

The Department of Health has a patient medical tracker form that is designed to help patients track their purchases and their doses. Patients should store all medications in the original packaging that it was sold in. 

Recreational cannabis limits allow those without a medical cannabis card to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana. This can be up to 16 grams of marijuana or 800 mg of edibles. 

NM Medical Marijuana Card Benefits

Even though recreational cannabis is now legal in New Mexico, there are many benefits for medical card holders. 

For example, now that the recreational program has been launched adults aged 21 and older can purchase marijuana. But they have to pay 15% in taxes. 

Medical cannabis patients in New Mexico don’t have to pay any taxes, though. This can result in some big savings for you throughout the year if you buy your maximum allotment of medication every rolling period. 

And New Mexico has medical marijuana reciprocity. This means that NM recognizes out-of-state medical marijuana cards. And other states might allow visitors with a valid card issued by New Mexico to use their program. 

Be sure to check with the state laws for any places you plan to visit. Just because one state allows patients to use their medication doesn’t mean they allow visiting patients to purchase from their dispensaries. The rules can differ significantly between states so always check to make sure you are staying in compliance. 

In an effort to protect patient access to medication, patients are given priority from dispensaries. The industry is required to set aside 20% of the products available for medical patients only. And dispensaries will often have special treatment for patients, like separate lines and patient waiting areas. 

Also, those who go through the steps to get their medical marijuana card in New Mexico benefit from more legal protection from the state. 

Can You Grow Medical Marijuana In NM?

If you want to grow your own medical cannabis in New Mexico you may be able to do so. But first, you need to apply for a (PPL) personal production license. If approved, you will receive a PPL card. 

There is a $30 fee to apply each year. Officials may need to visit your grow location to approve you. 

If you rent, lease, live in subsidized housing, or on tribal or federal land you will not be able to grow your own marijuana at these locations. 

If approved, patients can grow up to 16 plants at home. Only 4 plants are allowed to be mature, the rest need to be immature. 

Does NM Accept Out Of State Medical Cards?

Yes, NM is one of the only states to accept out-of-state medical cards. This state accepts cards from all other states. 

Visiting patients are allowed to purchase marijuana from NM dispensaries. 

Wrapping Up: NM Medical Card

Even though New Mexico allows recreational cannabis it pays to be a patient, if you can qualify for the medical program. 

You don’t have to pay any fees to apply to the state. Dispensaries have to set aside products just for patients. And patients don’t have to pay taxes on their purchases. 

Speak with a physician to see if you qualify. With a money-back guarantee there is nothing to lose.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a medical card in New Mexico?

If you are approved for the medical program the Department of Health mails cards to patients within 35 days of approving their application. You need to wait until your card arrives in the mail before you can make purchases from a dispensary. 

How old do you have to be to get a medical marijuana card in NM?

You need to be 18 years old or more to get your medical marijuana card in New Mexico.

If you are under the age of 18 you can still apply for your medical marijuana card, but an adult must help you fill out and submit the app. Those without a medical card must wait until 21 to purchase cannabis.