New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program Again Reserved For State Residents
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Feb. 20 signed Senate Bill 139, ensuring New Mexico’s medical cannabis program is reserved for New Mexico residents and reciprocal patients enrolled in out-of-state programs, as was the intention of legislation approved in 2019.
Senate Bill 139, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, corrected a drafting error in the 2019 update of New Mexico’s medical cannabis law, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act.
Senate Bill 139 restores the original definition of a “qualified patient” as a “resident of New Mexico.” Reciprocal patients who have enrolled in medical cannabis programs of other U.S. states are also eligible to participate.
The law takes effect immediately. Out-of-state residents who applied for and received access to New Mexico’s medical cannabis program in the last year will not be able to renew their cards upon their expiration.
