How to Get a New Mexico Medical Marijuana Card

How to Get a New Mexico Medical Marijuana Card in 2020

Table of contents

1. Getting a New Mexico Medical Marijuana Card Online Leafwell
2. Who Can Apply for an NM MMJ ID Card?
3. What Does an MMJ Card Permit in New Mexico?
4. How Do I Apply for a New Mexico Medical Cannabis Identification Card? 
5. What Does my Online Medical Marijuana Evaluation with Leafwell Include?
6. How Much Does it Cost for an NM MMJ Card and Medical Cannabis Certification? 
7. What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Cards in New Mexico?
8. What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a Medical Cannabis Card? 
9. Do I Need to Present my Medical Records to Leafwell? 
10. How Does a Caregiver Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card? 
11. Are my Details Kept Confidential When I Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card? 
12. Does New Mexico Have Medical Marijuana Reciprocity? 
13. Getting a Medical Marijuana Card in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Albuquerque and Las Cruces, New Mexico 
14. History of Medical Marijuana in New Mexico 
15. Useful Links

Getting a New Mexico Medical Marijuana Card with Leafwell

Did you know that New Mexico was the first state to enact a medical cannabis law back in 1978? However, despite this, there has been some slow developments in the process of applying over the past few years. Applications must still be posted or submitted in person, for example and it is not yet possible to apply online. However, Leafwell is here to help smooth the journey as much as possible for you, including providing certifications from state licensed physicians.

Telehealth or telemedicine is available in New Mexico. However, a relationship must first be established between patient and physician in-person for medical cannabis. You may qualify for medical cannabis online if you have seen the physician you are speaking to online within the last 12 months and the physician is willing to qualify you online. To reiterate: the physician must have seen you in-person within the last 12 months in order to renew your card or to issue you a new one. We will keep you up to date with any changes to this as soon as possible. At the moment, you cannot speak to a physician online to qualify for a medical cannabis card in New Mexico. You can, however, book an appointment online to speak to a physician face-to-face at a later date.

We’ve put together this guide which will answer all your questions and help individuals living in New Mexico State.

Who Can Apply for an NM MMJ ID Card?

Patients must be aged 18 years old or over in order to qualify for a medical marijuana card and obtain a physician’s certificate for themselves in New Mexico.

For minor patients under the age of 18, or those who are over 18 but need a caregiver due to their condition, a caregiver can be designated to apply on their behalf. The primary caregiver is designated by a patient’s practitioner as necessary to take responsibility for managing the well-being of a qualified patient with respect to the medical use of cannabis. Primary caregiver must be a resident of New Mexico. The caregiver must be 18 years of age or older.

What Does an MMJ Card Permit in New Mexico?

Here are the current possession limits which a medical marijauna card permits in New Mexico:

Qualifying patients may carry up to 8 ounces of cannabis for their own personal use in New Mexico.

Remember, recreational cannabis is not legal in New Mexico state.

How Do I Apply for a New Mexico Medical Cannabis Identification Card?

With Leafwell, you can get your New Mexico Medical Marijuana Card in 5 simple steps:

1. Register online with Leafwell at https://leafwell.co/medical-card/new-mexico/

It’s quick and easy! Plus all of your data and medical records are secure on our state-of-the-art telemedicine platform.

2. Book an appointment with a certified physician, licensed in New Mexico state with Leafwell

This initial consultation fee is $199 for an examination. Your initial appointment must be in-person.

3. Attend your appointment and get a medical cannabis certificate online from a state-licensed physician

The process is simple and HIPAA-compliant. Once approved, the certification is filled out and a digital copy is emailed to the patient. You will need to print this certificate off or wait for the posted copy which will be sent out as soon as your appointment with Leafwell is completed.

4. Submit the application to the New Mexico government

The application must be mailed or dropped off in-person. This is inconvenient and time-consuming but it is worth the effort. We hope the process will be digitised in due course. Here is the address:

New Mexico Department of Health

Medical Cannabis Program

PO Box 26110

Santa Fe, NM 87502

5. Your medical marijuana card will be sent to you via mail within 35 days of your submission

Most cards arrive much sooner but when the government is experiencing high volume, patients may have to wait a little longer.

GET CERTIFIED

What Does my Online Medical Marijuana Evaluation with Leafwell Include?

Initial medical marijuana evaluations cannot be done online at the moment in New Mexico – only subsequent appointments can take place online.

You will meet with a New Mexico registered practitioner who has experience issuing certificates for medical marijuana to patients for a range of medical issues. The registered practitioner will speak with you about why you are applying and ask some questions with regards to your medical conditions and history.

At the end of the consultation, the registered practitioner will be able to make an informed decision about whether he or she recommends the use of medical cannabis based on the medical information they have obtained. If an application is successful, the registered practitioner will complete the certification and then promptly email the electronic version of the card in PDF. A hard copy will be sent in the post a few days later.

If an application is unsuccessful, you will receive an email detailing why our registered practitioner felt unable to provide you with the certificate. You will not be charged for the consultation.

How Much Does it Cost for an NM MMJ Card and Medical Cannabis Certification?

The consultation for a new patient with Leafwell costs $199. The process is easy and HIPPA compliant.

There is a no application fee that needs to be paid to the state when you submit your application for a New Mexico medical marijuana card.

Please note that because cannabis is federally illegal, insurance companies will not cover any costs incurred from applying for a medical marijuana card.

What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Cards in New Mexico?

There is an ever-expanding list of conditions which qualify a patient for a medical marijuana card in New Mexico. As of June 2020, here are the medical conditions which qualify for an MMJ ID Card in New Mexico:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Anorexia/cachexia
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Cancer
• Cervical dystonia
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
• Friedreich’s ataxia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C infection
• HIV/AIDS
• Hospice patients
• Huntington’s disease
• Inflammatory autoimmune-mediated arthritis
• Intractable nausea/vomiting
• Lewy body disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Opioid dependency or other substance abuse disorders
• Painful peripheral neuropathy
• Parkinson’s disease (PD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Severe chronic pain
• Spasmodic torticollis
• Spinal cord damage
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Ulcerative colitis

During your consultation with a state-licensed physician on the Leafwell telemedicine platform, you will discuss one or more of these medical conditions to help our physician understand whether medical marijuana could help you.

Please note, for some ailments like chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), glaucoma and inflammatory autoimmune-mediated arthritis, you must get a second certification from a qualified specialist. We can help you with this at Leafwell.

By taking the correct dose of medical marijauna, many patients who experience symptoms from a wide range of medical conditions find their lives transformed. Medical marijuana can give individuals back their energy and capacity to enjoy life, get out in the fresh air and lead a comfortable, healthy and happy existence in the beautiful New Mexico outdoors. We believe in the power of medical marijuana to change lives for the better and give individuals the power to control their own medical conditions. Our licensed physicians believe this too which is why they work with Leafwell and help as many patients as possible to secure a medical marijuana card if they, as experts, believe cannabis may help alleviate symptoms and medical issues.

What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a Medical Cannabis Card?

In order to apply for your MMJ Card in New Mexico, you will need to show some identification documents. You should gather together the following:

• ID
• Proof of address
• Medical records

Below are all of the acceptable forms these documents may take.

Acceptable ID

• Driver’s license
• Valid US Passport
• State-produced ID card

Acceptable proof of residency

• Bank statement
• Correspondence with a state department (within the last 3 months)
• Rental or mortgage agreement

Medical Records

• Progress notes
• Health summary
• List of diagnoses
• Medication list
• Pictures of prescription bottles

Do I Need to Present my Medical Records to Leafwell?

Yes. In order to responsibly sign a certificate which permits individuals to apply for an MMJ card, our registered practitioners must have a comprehensive understanding of your medical history. This allows them to provide an accurate assessment to ensure that medical cannabis is a good option for each patient on a case by case basis. We request the following (if applicable):

• Medication list
• Physician’s diagnosis
• Treatment plan
• Progress notes
• Radiology/MRI/X-ray image
• Lab test results

GET A NM MEDICAL CANNABIS CARD

You may also be required to provide these details to the New Mexico government when you complete your application.

How Does a Caregiver Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card?

Caregivers must be aged 18 or over. Caregiver fills out their own application form, and must be listed on the patient’s application form as well. The link to the application form is at the bottom of this page.

Can a Qualifying Patient Grow Cannabis in New Mexico?

Home cultivation of up to 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature) may be grown if the patient has the appropriate license.

To apply for a Personal Production License (PPL), you will need to complete a Medical Cannabis Personal Production Application and submit it with a $30 license fee. Fee waivers are available according to federal poverty guidelines.

Are my Details Kept Confidential When I Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card?

Yes. Leafwell is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients. Our online service is HIPAA compliant and our systems are designed to keep all of your confidential details safe.

Does New Mexico Have Medical Marijuana Reciprocity? I.E. does the state accept any other state’s cards and do any other states recognise a card from New Mexico?)

There is no reciprocity with other states at the moment. However, we expect this to change over the coming years as more states introduce extensive medical marijuana programs. The New Mexico government has predicted reciprocity will be introduced during 2020. However, Covid-19 may delay this.

Getting a Medical Marijuana Card in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Albuquerque and Las Cruces, New Mexico

Some counties and municipalities in New Mexico have introduced additional laws. Santa Fe decriminalised small amounts of cannabis back in August 2014, 5 years before the rest of the state. Bernalillo followed suit in September 2014. Albuquerque decriminalised possession of up to one ounce of cannabis in April 2018.

In February 2020, Las Cruces City Council approved a resolution which urged the state legislature to pass the Cannabis regulation Act which would legalize recreational cannabis in the state. We expect the consequences of this to be addressed in the aftermath of Covid-19.

Check back here soon to find the closest clinic to your home.

History of Medical Marijuana in New Mexico

Here is a brief overview of the history of medical marijuana in New Mexico:

1923 – The cultivation, importation and sale of cannabis was banned

1978 – Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act passed and makes New Mexico the first state to pass legislation which allows the medical use of cannabis in some form. The program allowed cancer patients to receive cannabis or THC

2007 – “The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act” is approved, removing state-level penalties for those who need to use marijuana for medical purposes. This established a Patient Registry Program

March 2019 – A bill to legalize recreational use was passed by the House

July 2019 – Decriminalization came into effect in July. First-time possession of up to half ounce is now a petty misdemeanour which comes with a $50 fine. This law also decriminalized possession of drug paraphernalia.

Recreational marijuana is not legal in New Mexico at the moment. Those without a medical marijuana card and in possession of 1 ounce or less may get up to 15 days’ incarceration and/or a fine of $100. A second offense could bring up to one year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine (same with possessing between 1 and less than 8 ounces). These are all misdemeanors.

Possession of 8 ounces or more is a felony, and carries with it up to 1.5 years incarceration and/or a fine of $5,000. This is similar to distribution of 100 pounds or less of cannabis for a first offense.

Cultivation of any amount without a license is a felony, with 9 years incarceration and a $10,000 fine. Sentence and fine is doubled for any subsequent offenses, or if within a school zone.

Possession of hash or concentrates is a misdemeanor, and can land one in jail for up to 1 year and a $1,000 fine. Distributing or making hash or concentrates is a felony, with up to 3 years’ imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.

Possessing or distributing paraphernalia is a misdemeanor, with up to 1 year imprisonment and a $100 fine.

Driving licenses may be revoked upon conviction for those aged 15 or older.

Useful Links

To find out more about getting a Medical Marijuana Card in New Mexico, get in touch with the expert Leafwell team today or use any of these verified resources below:

New Mexico MMP Page
Medical Cannabis Program in New Mexico
Information about the MCP in New Mexico
Patients, Caregivers and Personal Production Licensees
Personal Production License Form
Application Form For Caregivers