Medical and recreational cannabis are both legal in New Mexico. Medical cannabis has been legal in the state since 2007, while recreational cannabis has taken a longer path to legalization. Following the statewide decriminalization of specific quantities of cannabis in 2019, recreational cannabis use has been legal for adults 21 or older since April 1, 2022.

Marijuana Laws in New Mexico

Laws and limits for patients and recreational users in New Mexico are straightforward and user-friendly compared to many other states. While the state’s recreational industry is still relatively new, New Mexico’s medical program is more established and has seen recent expansions. Still, despite the current guidelines allowing for fairly sizable purchase limits and other somewhat laissez-faire restrictions, you should keep up to date with the latest news on the state’s cannabis laws to ensure you follow its rules and regulations.

Medical Cannabis Laws

Individuals with one or more qualifying conditions are welcome to receive certification to join the state’s medical cannabis registry. The medical program has no age limit, but patients under 18 must have a parent or guardian registered as a caregiver. Patients can possess up to 425 units, which is roughly 15 ounces of cannabis products over 90 days. Additionally, while purchase limits are taken seriously, there are no limits on the amount of cannabis a patient can have in their home.

There have been several recent changes to New Mexico’s medical cannabis program. Notably, the state has streamlined its application and renewal process. Under the state’s previous system, patients would need to renew their certification and their actual med card at different times of the year. Now, certifications last two years, and all cards are electronic.

Recreational Marijuana Laws

New Mexico legislature enacted a bill legalizing adult-use cannabis in 2021. The bill went into effect on April 1, 2022, officially making recreational marijuana sales legal. Adults over 21 can purchase up to 2 ounces of cannabis, 16 grams of extract, and 800 milligrams of edibles. There is no limit on the amount of cannabis an adult consumer can have in their own home, however. Additionally, CBD,delta-8, and other hemp-derived cannabinoids are legal in New Mexico.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in New Mexico

While medical and recreational marijuana are both legal in New Mexico, the state has certain rules and regulations in place that its residents are expected to follow.

Only Certain Conditions Are Allowed

New Mexico law lists a limited number of conditions that qualify a patient for medical cannabis certification. Current qualifying conditions include:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease
• Anxiety Disorder
• 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
• Insomnia
• Intractable Nausea/Vomiting
• Lewy Body Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Painful Peripheral Neuropathy
• Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Severe Anorexia/Cachexia
• Severe Chronic Pain
• Spasmodic Torticollis (Cervical Dystonia)
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Ulcerative Colitis

Patients in hospice care may also be approved for a medical marijuana card.

Telehealth Is Allowed

New Mexico allows patients to receive certification through telehealth platforms like Leafwell, making MMJ certification easy and convenient for prospective patients.

New Mexico Recognizes Out-of-State Medical Cards

New Mexico has had medical cannabis reciprocity since 2021. Visitors must register at a dispensary to receive a New Mexico Reciprocal Patient ID.

Other states with either reciprocity include:

• Arizona
• Arkansas *
• Delaware
• Hawaii *
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan (at the dispensary’s discretion)
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey *
• Oklahoma *
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands *
• Utah * (up to two 21-day periods in a calendar year)
• Washington, D.C.

*Visitors must complete a visiting patient application with the state program.

States that have recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older but do not accept out-of-state cards include:

• Alaska
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota (currently only tribal dispensaries)
• Missouri
• Montana
• New York
• Oregon
• Vermont
• Washington

Can You Grow Cannabis in New Mexico?

Yes, New Mexico residents can grow cannabis. Whether an individual is enrolled in the state’s medical program or is an adult-use consumer, cultivation is legal. People can have six mature plants in their home, as well as six seedlings, for a maximum of 12 plants at varying states of maturity.

The Bottom Line

New Mexico marijuana laws state that cannabis is legal for patients using marijuana medicinally and for adult personal use. Cultivation of cannabis plants is also allowed under state law. Synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids are also legal.

If you are a New Mexico resident with one of the above qualifying conditions, you should speak to a doctor today about receiving certification through Leafwell.