On July 1st, New Mexico’s law allowing reciprocity to out-of-state medical cannabis patients went into effect. This law allows a card-holding patient from another state to access and possess medical cannabis in New Mexico.
The new law passed under Senate Bill 139 amended the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act definitions and now defines a reciprocal participant as “an individual who holds proof of authorization to participate in the medical cannabis program of another state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or commonwealth of the United States or a New Mexico Indian nation, tribe or pueblo.”
The introduction of this language has opened up the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program to those who hold a valid medical cannabis recommendation or card from a state that has implemented it’s own medical program.
How can a patient access the Reciprocal Patient Program?
Since July 3rd, I have discussed this process with well over 200 patients. At least half of them have followed through and gained access into New Mexico’s Reciprocal Patient Program (the “RPP”). The process takes all of 10 minutes, maybe.
How to become a participant in the RPP:
To start, you are going to want to obtain a doctor recommendation. California is currently the only state that allows out-of-state residents to obtain a doctor recommendation – and you can do it online.
Talk to the Doc.
The site for the doctor that I have been sending patients too is NuggMD (thanks, JetJet). It is a simple 10 to 15 minute process. You register with the site, upload a photo of your ID, answer a few questions related to your conditions and/or symptoms and then wait for a doctor to call you. The doctor calls and speaks to you regarding your condition and whether or not cannabis helps you.
The doctor may ask where you intend to use the recommendation or they may let you know that it is only good in California. Let them. It is of no business of theirs that you will be using it in New Mexico.
Once approved, the doctor immediately emails you a copy of your recommendation. You then take that recommendation to a dispensary in New Mexico and they will enroll you in the RPP at that very moment.
Once enrolled into the program, you are issued a Reciprocal Patient License. This license is what will allow you to purchase and possess medical cannabis in the state on New Mexico.
The cost of the recommendation is $39.00 thru NuggMD.
If you have any questions regarding the RPP, please feel free to contact me thru Facebook.
