New Mexico: Medical Cannabis Program Update

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The New Mexico Department of Health’s Medical Advisory Board will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. January 15th at Los Griegos Community Center, 1231 Candelaria NW, in Albuquerque to review petitions to add new health conditions eligible for the Department’s Medical Cannabis Program. The Board’s eight board-certified physicians will consider petitions that have been previously submitted to the Department of Health.

The Board will make recommendations to the Department’s Health Secretary, who will make the final decision on all petitions. If a condition is approved, anyone with that medical condition can apply to the Medical Cannabis Program.

So far, the Department has received petitions to add such medical conditions as Crohn’s Disease, chronic pain, post traumatic stress disorder, hepatitis C, bipolar disorder, arthritis and sciatica, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral neuropathy and anorexia. The Medical Advisory Board will meet again in March to review additional petitions.

Since the Medical Cannabis Program began July 1, 2007, the Department of Health has approved 206 patient applications.

Attention Medical Providers:

If your patient is applying to the program, fill out the “Medical Provider Certification for Patient Eligibility” form (link listed below) and attest that the patient has a debility resulting from a medical condition where the patient is likely to benefit from the use of medical cannabis.

Medical Doctors, Doctors of Osteopathy and Family Nurse Practitioners who can legally prescribe medication in New Mexico can write a recommendation for medical cannabis; No special certification is required. Recommendations written on Rx pads cannot be accepted.

Under current state law, the only qualifying conditions for the medical cannabis program are:
Cancer
Glaucoma
Multiple Sclerosis
Epilepsy
Spinal Cord Damage with Intractable Spasticity
HIV/AIDS

Also, any patient in hospice care could qualify.

If your patient does not have a qualifying condition and you feel they would benefit from the medical use of cannabis, that person can petition the Medical Advisory Board to add their condition to the current list. Please contact the Medical Cannabis Program Coordinator at (505) 827-2321 or melissa.milam@state.nm.us for more information.

Attention Patients:

Below are links to application forms for the program.

The following forms are required, along with a copy of your NM driver license or state ID card.
Participant Application
Medical Provider Certification
Release of Information
Mail or fax the forms to:
Department of Health
1190 St. Francis Drive
Suite S1203
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Fax: (505) 476-3637


If you have questions, please contact the Medical Cannabis Program Coordinator at (505) 827-2321 or melissa.milam@state.nm.us.


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