Effective April 1, 2023, the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program (MCP) no longer accepts paper applications for medical marijuana card renewal. However, cardholders with paper applications signed and dated by their medical marijuana providers between January 1, 2023, and March 31, 2023, may still forward their paper applications to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) for processing. In such an instance, a patient must complete the Patient Information Form, indicating renewal as the application type when filling out the form. The medical certification section of the form must be duly signed by a licensed medical provider showing the patient's debilitating condition and confirming their continued need for medical cannabis treatment.
A paper application for a New Mexico medical marijuana card renewal must be accompanied by the cardholder's valid state-issued driver's license or any other state-issued ID. Completed forms and necessary documents should be mailed to the New Mexico Department of Health at:
Medical Cannabis Program
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110
A renewal application can be submitted up to 90 days before the current card expires. Patients are advised to submit such applications at least 30 days before their cards’ expiration dates. The MCP can be contacted at (505) 827-2321 for further inquiries on how to renew an expired medical marijuana card in New Mexico. It processes mailed applications within 30 days of receipt.
Yes. Medical marijuana cardholders in New Mexico are mandated to renew their medical marijuana cards online using the NMDOH Medical Cannabis Program Online Portal. The NMDOH has phased out paper applications for medical marijuana cards, including renewals. Patients and caregivers are encouraged to review the Patient Instructions and Caregiver Instructions for the information and documents needed to renew their medical marijuana cards on the Medical Cannabis Online Portal.
A patient must visit their medical provider, who will assess them to identify the patient's need for continued medical marijuana use. The medical provider will initiate the patient's medical marijuana card renewal application online by completing their portion of the application. Thereafter, the patient can sign in to their Medical Cannabis Program Portal account, verify the information entered by their medical provider, and provide/upload other necessary details/documents. Medical marijuana card renewal applications submitted online in New Mexico are processed within 5 business days of receipt. However, incomplete applications will be delayed until the applicants provide missing documents or information.
All medical marijuana cards issued in New Mexico before June 16, 2023 have three-year validity and must be renewed at expiration. However, following some recent changes, all medical marijuana card applications processed from June 16, 2023 will now expire 2 years after issuance.
Yes. Every medical marijuana patient in New Mexico needs a licensed medical provider to recertify them for medical marijuana use each time they want to renew their medical cannabis card. However, there must be a patient-physician relationship between a cannabis patient and their medical provider. The medical provider can be a doctor, nurse practitioner, or prescribing psychologist who is permitted to prescribe controlled drugs in New Mexico. Resident physicians and fellows are not qualified to certify patients for medical cannabis in the state because they lack the credentials necessary to meet regulatory requirements.
New Mexico medical marijuana cards are issued free of charge to qualified persons. However, cardholders may incur additional expenses when making appointments with their medical providers, which may cost an average of $100. However, the state's Department of Health will charge $50 to replace a lost card.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) now mandates medical marijuana cardholders in the state to renew their medical marijuana cards online. However, patients or caregivers whose medical providers have signed their renewal paperwork between January 1, 2023, and March 31, 2023, can still submit their applications to the NMDOH at:
New Mexico Department of Health
Medical Cannabis Program
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110
Yes. Medical marijuana patients with medical cannabis cards from out-of-state can register as reciprocal patients under the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program. Generally, patients with proof of registration in medical marijuana programs from the following places qualify as reciprocal patients in New Mexico:
A medical marijuana reciprocal participant in New Mexico must meet the following criteria in order to participate in the state's Medical Cannabis Program: