Does chronic pain qualify for a medical card in New Mexico?
Yes. The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program (Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act) lists Severe chronic pain as a qualifying condition. A New Mexico-licensed provider still has to evaluate you and agree that cannabis is appropriate.
About chronic pain
Stronger evidence. The National Academies found substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults. Most trials looked at neuropathic pain and measured modest reductions in pain scores, and many patients use cannabis to cut back on other medications.
Symptoms New Mexico patients most often hope to ease:
- Persistent aching or burning pain
- Nerve pain such as tingling, shooting or electric sensations
- Pain that keeps you from sleeping
- Muscle tension and spasms
- Side effects or limited relief from current pain medicines
Read more: medical marijuana for chronic pain.
How to get certified in New Mexico
- Visit a New Mexico-licensed medical provider who is enrolled with the program; only providers can start an application.
- The provider confirms one of the 30 qualifying conditions and starts your application in the Online Patient Portal.
- Create your own account at mcp-patient-tracking.nmhealth.org.
- Check the details your provider entered, upload your New Mexico driver's license or state ID, and approve any caregiver.
- Sign the attestation and submit; there is no state fee.
- After approval (typically within 5 business days), download your electronic card from the portal.
New Mexico allows the evaluation by telehealth, so you can see a New Mexico-licensed provider by video. Our evaluation starts at $79 and is charged only if you're approved.
Costs and timeline
- State fee: Free (no state enrollment fee)
- Card lasts: 3 years
- Processing: Typically within 5 business days for online portal applications
- Patient limit: 15 oz per 90 days
- Home grow: With a personal production license: up to 16 plants, no more than 4 of them flowering (per a 2019 Department fact sheet)
- Recreational sales: Legal for adults 21+
- First visit online: Yes
See the full New Mexico cost breakdown and New Mexico program overview.
Other qualifying conditions in New Mexico
- ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Alzheimer's disease
- Anorexia & appetite loss
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Cachexia & wasting syndrome
- Cancer
- Crohn's & IBD
- Dystonia
- Epilepsy & seizures
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
See every qualifying condition in New Mexico
Chronic pain in nearby states
Frequently asked questions
Do I need medical records for chronic pain?
How long does certification take in New Mexico?
Can I renew online in New Mexico?
Sources
- Medical Cannabis Program (NM Department of Health)
- Information for Healthcare Providers & Practitioners - Qualifying Conditions
- Online Patient Portal - Patient Instructions (rev. 12/18/2024)
- Participating in New Mexico's Medical Cannabis Program - Reciprocal Participants (rev. 5/8/2024)
- Medical Cannabis Program Law Enforcement Fact Sheet (June 14, 2019)
- Patients & Caregivers (NM Department of Health)
- National Academies — The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Laws change — confirm details with your state agency. State facts last checked October 7, 2026.