How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in New Mexico​

A major perk of being a medical cannabis patient in New Mexico is the potential to save money through tax exclusion. Non-medical users are subject to a 12% tax on purchases of cannabis, with that rate set to rise to 18% by 2030. In contrast, medical cannabis users are excluded from taxes on up to 425 units (about 15 ounces of dried flower) within a three-month span. With regular users spending an average of $300 per month on marijuana, having a medical card could save you over $400 in taxes annually.

Patients with medical marijuana cards can legally possess and purchase significantly larger quantities of cannabis than recreational users. While non-medical consumers are limited to purchasing and possessing merely two ounces of cannabis flower, sixteen grams of extract, and eight hundred milligrams of infused edibles per transaction, medical patients can buy up to 425 units (equivalent to about 15 ounces of flower) over a rolling 90-day period. This higher limit provides greater flexibility and convenience, particularly for patients who rely on larger quantities for their treatment.

Besides tax savings, having a medical marijuana card can make it significantly cost-effective overall to obtain the cannabis products you need. Medical patients often have access to lower prices compared to non-medical users, especially when purchasing in bulk or specific medical-grade products that may not be available through recreational sales.

New Mexico’s medical cannabis program offers enhanced legal protections that recreational users don’t enjoy. Medical marijuana users are legally protected from being denied access to treatments or organ transplants solely because of their cannabis use. This is an essential safeguard for individuals managing chronic illnesses or other health conditions.

Employment-related protections are another significant benefit of having a medical cannabis card. While employers in New Mexico are permitted to restrict cannabis use for workers in safety-sensitive roles, they cannot prevent employees in non-safety-sensitive positions from using cannabis outside of work. Medical cannabis patients benefit from even stronger employment protections, ensuring they cannot be discriminated against for legally using marijuana to manage their medical conditions.

Another key benefit for medical cannabis card holders is the ability to cultivate more cannabis plants at home. While non-medical users are permitted to cultivate cannabis, medical patients tend to have broader allowances for cultivation, allowing them to better meet their needs without frequent visits to a dispensary.

Medical cannabis patients in New Mexico also gain access to higher-quality, medical-grade cannabis products. These products may be specially formulated for patients dealing with chronic pain, anxiety, or other health issues, providing more effective symptom management than recreational cannabis might offer. Medical dispensaries often prioritize patients over recreational consumers, ensuring better availability of the strains or forms that work best for their specific conditions.

Unlike non-medical cannabis, which is restricted to individuals aged 21 and older, New Mexico’s medical cannabis program permits people under 21 with eligible medical conditions to receive cannabis treatment under a doctor’s supervision. This can be vital for younger individuals managing health issues like epilepsy or intense pain, for whom alternative treatments may be ineffective.