How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in New Mexico

Medicinal cannabis has been legalized within the state of New Mexico through the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, which was enacted in 2007. Recreational cannabis was legalized in April 2021, with retail sales starting in April 2022.

Although recreational cannabis use is permitted among adults who are more than 21 years old, having a medical cannabis card will ensure that one does not incur any application fees, is exempted from paying any tax for purchases, is provided with a higher purchase limit, is unlimited on personal use, and enjoys stronger job protection since 2025.

The Medical Cannabis Program is managed by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). The NMDOH processes all applications made by patients and caregivers through their Online Patient Portal.

• Webpage: nmhealth.org/about/mcpp/mcp   
• Online portal for patients: Available on the NMDOH Medical Cannabis Program webpage

New Mexico Medical Cannabis Card eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Should be a citizen of New Mexico with a proper identification document
• Minimum age of 18 years old (in case of minors, they must be eligible under the provision of having a responsible adult acting as a caregiver)
• Medical condition qualifying for cannabis use that should be confirmed by a licensed doctor in the state

No application fee in New Mexico; only consultation and retail fees.

The certified prescribers must be licensed practitioners in New Mexico to prescribe controlled substances and should have a provider-patient relationship that should exist with the patient. MDs and DOs and NPs fall under the category of eligible prescribers. Telemedicine is fully accepted.

New Mexico currently recognizes 30 qualifying conditions. These include:

• ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Anxiety disorders (added December 2022)
• Cancer
• Chronic pain (lasting 3 months or longer)
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Insomnia (added June 2023)
• Multiple sclerosis and spinal cord damage with spasticity
• Parkinson’s disease
• PTSD and terminal illness

New medical conditions can be submitted to the MCAB by residents through the petition process, which occurs twice a year.

Step 1: Get Certified by a Licensed Provider

To schedule an appointment via telemedicine or face-to-face with a New Mexico licensed doctor/NP. Should you be eligible for such an exemption, your healthcare provider will complete his/her part of the application process on the NMDOH patient portal. You will receive an email that will allow you to create your account.

Step 2: Create Your NMDOH Portal Account

Sign up for an account using the link provided in your email. Once the verification process is complete, access the NMDOH Online Patient Portal and select the Applications menu tab.

Step 3: Upload Required Documents

Complete your portion of the form and submit it as follows:

• State ID card or driver’s license issued by the State of New Mexico – this document is evidence of identification and residency.
• Mailing address – only if you did not receive this information from your insurance carrier through the online portal.
• Documentation confirming parental/guardian authority to act on behalf of the minor.

Paper forms are no longer accepted as of April 2023.

Step 4: Wait for Approval and Access Your Card

NMDOH shall review your application for up to 5 working days. Once you get approval from your application, you will immediately receive your e-cards through your portal. There is no provision for sending hard copy cards in New Mexico. You can either print it or download it from your portal.

There is no state fee for the time being.

Bring the card and photo identification to any dispensary that is duly licensed within New Mexico. Recreational patients can also buy cannabis at the medical side.

Purchase and Possession Limits

The medical patients will be able to get much more than recreational patients, and they do not have to pay an excise tax within their 90-day limit.

Home Cultivation – Personal Production License (PPL)

A Personal Production License can be acquired by medical patients who want to grow their own cannabis at home. The Personal Production License will cost you $30 per year and requires the patient to submit an application either by mail or in person, but not via email. Your PPL card needs to be renewed each year.

Benefits Over Recreational Access

• No state card fee and no excise tax during your 90-day period
• 15 ozs. in 90 days – much higher than the 2-oz recreational per-purchase cap
• Unlimited in-home use (away from public view)
• Minimum age to use marijuana is 18 – recreational use minimum age is 21
• Job protection – state law prevents discrimination against being a cardholder, even stronger in 2025
• Reciprocity with out-of-state patients – home state cards work in New Mexico dispensaries

Registered caregivers can help up to four patients and must be residents of New Mexico, aged 18 and over, and have passed a criminal background test since any felony is grounds for refusal. They register through the NMDOH portal using the patient’s account but can also apply for a PPL to cultivate cannabis on behalf of the patient.

Reciprocity exists in its full version for people who hold out-of-state cards. Just provide a valid MMJ card from your home state and a corresponding photo identification in any state-sanctioned dispensary to get registered as a participant with reciprocity rights.

Cards have a validity period of 2 years. A renewed one will require a new provider certification and a new registration application submitted via the portal. No fees are required for that.

• No state application fee, one of the few states that don’t charge for patient registration.
• Online applications only; paper applications are not accepted anymore.
• Processed within 5 business days.
• Digital card only; can be printed or viewed in your portal account.
• 15 ounces tax-free every 90 days; significantly higher than what is allowed for recreational use.
• Cultivation at home requires an additional yearly fee of $30.
• Background check required for caregivers.
• Reciprocity; out-of-state patient cards accepted in NM dispensaries.