Guide to New Mexico's Medical Cannabis Card

It is important to remember you are in control of your cannabis patient journey and there is help along the way. This guide has been developed to help you manage the application process with greater ease. 

First, are you eligible?

Anyone interested in applying to New Mexico’s medical cannabis program must meet basic residency and age requirements and have a qualifying condition to be eligible. 

To meet the residency and age requirements, all applicants must:

• have proof of being a legal New Mexico Resident in the form of a valid photo ID or driver’s license issued by the state of New Mexico. 
• be eighteen years or older at the time they are applying as a patient or caregiver.

After meeting these two requirements, applicants must have a qualifying condition. The state of New Mexico currently recognizes twenty-eight qualifying conditions. 

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cancer
• Crohn’s Disease
• Damage to the Nervous Tissue of the Spinal Cord (with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity)
• Epilepsy/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
• Intractable Nausea/Vomiting
• Lewy Body Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Painful Peripheral Neuropathy
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Severe Anorexia/Cachexia
• Severe Chronic Pain
• Spasmodic Torticollis (Cervical Dystonia)
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Ulcerative Colitis

Patients with any of the conditions listed above MUST have existing medical resords of the diagnosis. The only exception is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which can be diagnosed without prior proof of diagnosis at a cannabis physicians' office. 

If you have any of these qualifying conditions, it’s always a good idea to contact your general practitioner to begin the application process. 

If you have any of these following questions or concerns it may be a good idea to reach out directly to a medical cannabis doctor. 

• What if my doctor isn’t open to idea of the medical cannabis program?
• What if I’m not sure if I qualify because my condition isn’t listed word for word? 
• What if I’m not sure if cannabis can help me with another condition not listed above and I want more information? 
• What if I’m curious about medical cannabis and how it can help me, with or without a medical diagnosis?  
• What if I want to obtain my card for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder but I need help getting the diagnosis?

These questions may seem confusing or difficult to answer, but there are physicians licensed in the state of New Mexico who specialize in medical cannabis who can help answer them for you. Many of these physicians can also help you apply to the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program. 

Second, contacting a doctor

If you need to contact a physician specializing in medical cannabis, it’s important to have an idea of what you are trying to use cannabis for medically. If you are applying for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, you will need a different type of appointment. This is due to how long the appointment will last and the type of evaluation that is done.

If you think you meet the eligibility requirements and you need a medical cannabis specialist, the next step is to contact a licensed provider who can help you apply to the program. Below is a list of centers in New Mexico with licensed providers able and willing to help you. 

All of the licensed physicians on the list follow similar methods to help patients with the application and obtaining their medical cannabis card. Once you have decided which practitioner is right for you, OR if you already have a physician who is willing to help you apply to the program, it is time to schedule an appointment and begin filling out the application. 

Aztec

• Compassionate Hearts, LLC Medical Cannabis Card Assistance & CBD Store (505) 334-1994

Albuquerque

• NM Brief Relief: Medical Marijuana Cards and CBD Products (505) 433-1773 
• Zia Health and Wellness (505) 299-7873 
• Peace Cannabis Cards (505) 247-3223 
• Greenview Medical Cannabis Evaluations (505) 990-3978  
• Albuquerque Integrative Medicine (AIM) (505) 503-8962 
• Buen Salud Medical Cannabis Evaluations (505) 589-6391  
• 420 Connect NM Medical Cannabis Cards (505) 433-1773  
• Canna Care (505) 219-3944 
• Medcan Consultants of New Mexico (505) 503-8707 

Carlsbad

• Peace Cannabis Cards (505) 247-3223 

Clovis

• Greenview (505) 990-3978 

Farmington

• New Mexico Alternative Care (505) 258-4952 

Las Cruces

• Mesilla Medical Cannabis Evaluation (575) 519-5500  
• NM Cannabis Evaluations (505) 589-6391 

Santa Fe

• Kure Clinic (505)930-5339 
• New Age Medical (505) 469-8581 

Roswell

• Greenview 505-990-3978 

Ruidoso

• White Mountain Wellness Medical Cannabis Program (844) 337-5283 

Third, seeing the doctor and filling out your application

If you are seeing your own doctor:

The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Patient Application can be found here. However, if you are going through a medical cannabis physician, they will likely help you fill out the application at your appointment. 

If you are seeing your own doctor, follow these steps:

• First, print the Patient Information Form found at the link above and fill out the with all of the applicant’s information.
• Next, make a clear copy of your current New Mexico driver’s license or photo ID. 
• Then, make an appointment with your physician. At that appointment you must have your physician fill out the Medical Certification Form and provide you with a copy of your clinic notes. These notes provide proof of the condition qualifying you for the Medical Cannabis Program.

If you are seeing a licensed cannabis physician:

Before your appointment, the cannabis physician’s office should give you a list of what to do before you arrive. This typically consists of requesting that your primary physician or specialist send your medical records to the cannabis physician. This usually requires signing a form authorizing the release of your information to another provider.  Depending upon your medical provider, copies of your medical records may be available on-line. If so, print these out and bring to your appointment.

At your appointment, your new cannabis physician will help you fill out the Patient Information Form and complete a Medical Certification Form on your behalf. The provider should be able to tell you whether or not you will qualify for the program and provide you with some guidance to help you once you obtain your registry identification card. 

Fourth, mailing the application and waiting for your cannabis card

Once you have all of your documents filled out and ready to go, put them in an envelope and mail them to the New Mexico Department of Health at: 

Department of Health
Medical Cannabis Program
1190 S St. Francis Dr., PO BOX 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110

It’s a good idea to use priority mail and get a receipt with tracking number from the post office. It’s not required, but it can be helpful if your application is lost along the way. 

You can also drop the application off in person at:

Department of Health
Medical Cannabis Program
1474 Rodeo Road, Suite 200
Santa Fe, NM 87505

It typically takes about a month after receiving the forms for the Department of Health to review your application and issue your card. You will receive your card in the mail from the Department of Health along with a patient guide and some useful information about the New Mexico Medical Cannabis program. 

Once you receive your card, you can take it to any licensed dispensary and purchase medical cannabis.