There are about 70,000 legally certified medical marijuana users in New Mexico. To purchase medical marijuana, you must have a valid New Mexico medical cannabis card. The laws that govern medical marijuana in Las Cruces, NM, are New Mexico Administrative Code 7.34.3 and the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, which was updated in 2019 when the governor signed Senate Bill 406 into law.
Rules for New Mexico Medical Marijuana Patients
If you’re a legal cannabis patient in New Mexico, you’re permitted to obtain up to 8 ounces of marijuana per three-month period. You can make your purchases at Sacred Garden or you can grow your own.
The law permits up to 16 plants in a home or other registered grow location, but only four of them can be mature at a time. A personal production license from the New Mexico Department of Health is required to grow at home. To get it, you must fill out an application form, and you will need to pay a fee, unless you qualify to have it waived on the basis of income.
Qualifying for Medical Marijuana in Las Cruces, NM
The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act legalized cannabis for New Mexico residents with debilitating medical conditions, and the law specifies which conditions qualify. The original list consisted of epilepsy, cancer, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord damage, HIV or AIDS, glaucoma, epilepsy, and hospice care. The 2019 expansion of the law specified many other conditions, including ulcerative colitis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, and hepatitis C. The New Mexico Department of Health can certify new conditions as necessary.
Patients under 18 can apply for a medical marijuana card, but they must have a parent or guardian’s permission, and they need a caregiver to manage their marijuana for them. These patients can also receive their medicine at school if needed.
Applying for a Medical Marijuana Card
Medical marijuana patients have to follow certain rules to maintain their access to legal cannabis. Every three years, patients must file an application with the Department of Health, which then has 30 days to approve the application.
If you’re applying, you’ll need to include a copy of your current state ID, such as a driver’s license or New Mexico state ID card, and you’ll need the signature of a healthcare provider who is permitted to write prescriptions within the state. This can be either your primary care doctor or a different provider. Depending on your health situation, you may need to include copies of your medical records with your application.
Users of medical marijuana in Las Cruces, NM, can purchase therapeutic products at a state-licensed dispensary like Sacred Garden, and the law allows for an approved, licensed caregiver to manage marijuana use for qualifying patients. This helps ensure that even patients who cannot physically reach a dispensary can benefit from medical cannabis. Dispensaries carry a range of products, including flower, edibles, and concentrates.
Check out the most recent happenings our government is doing in regards to recreational use in 2019.