Just below Colorado is the last of the mountain states, New Mexico. Although it borders Colorado, it also borders Arizona and Texas. While Arizona allows medical marijuana and welcomes patients from other states, that is all it does.
Please note: ILGM is NOT a legal adviser. Information contained in this website is intended as general introductory information only. The information contained on this website is not legal advice. It should not be construed as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.
Texas, on the other hand, is starkly against anything remotely related to marijuana. New Mexico sits comfortably between the two. For years, New Mexico was medical use only, but on April 1, 2021, everything changed.
Medical marijuana
New Mexico’s medical marijuana program began in 2007. It includes many conditions, such as anorexia, arthritis, cancer, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, intractable nausea/vomiting, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and spinal cord damage. Patients can have up to eight ounces of medical cannabis over a 90-day period.
Medical patients (or their caregivers) can also do their own marijuana growing. They can have up to 4 mature plants and 12 immature plants in the process of growing. The new law also permits recreational growing. Recreational dispensaries arrive in 2022.
How To Open A Dispensary In New Mexico
New Mexico has legalized the use, possession, and sale/distribution of medicinal cannabis for patients with qualifying medical conditions. Know the licensing requirements for starting a marijuana dispensary in New Mexico.
While the laws are clarified, it’s easiest to grow legally as a patient or caregiver in New Mexico. Caregivers in this state need to be at least 18 years old. They should also be a resident of New Mexico and approved by the patient’s prescribing doctor. Get your medical marijuana card at marijuanadoctors.com
Growing weed in New Mexico used to be difficult – not because of the area; growing weed is actually quite easy.
It was difficult because the state used to have some of the strictest weed-growing laws in the country. Growing any amount of weed in New Mexico was a felony with 9 years of jail time. The new law changes this.
Growing in New Mexico
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New Mexico and Arizona share a Native American population on the border of both states. The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American –governed territory.
Native American territories have their own laws, including ones on marijuana. President Obama gave Native American territories the option to make their own marijuana rules, so check with tribal authorities.
With their latest law, New Mexico is now quite generous when it comes to marijuana. If you have a medical condition, you can grow a lot. If you don’t, you can grow a lot.
Growing your own weed in New Mexico is very possible – especially now. Plus, you don’t have to move north to Colorado.
Ready to start growing your own marijuana? Get started by buying high-quality seeds in our seed bank.
FAQs about Cannabis Growing Laws in New Mexico
What’s included in New Mexico’s medical marijuana program?
The medical marijuana program in the state of New Mexico includes many conditions, such as anorexia, arthritis, cancer, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, intractable nausea/vomiting, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and spinal cord damage. It is legal for patients to possess up to eight ounces of medical cannabis over a 90-day period.
How many plants are medical patients allowed to grow in New Mexico?
Medical patients (or their caregivers) can also do their own marijuana growing. They can have up to 4 mature plants and 12 immature plants in the process of growing.
What’s your experience with marijuana where you live? Please share with us in the comments.
It’s just a plant, after all …
Jenny
Hi Nell,
Thanks for your message. If the owner sticks to the state laws of Cannabis cultivation, the owner is allowed to cultivate 6 plants on his land. If the owner has a license they may grow even more plants than that.
I do hope this helps, but let us know if you have any further questions, of course.
Kind regards,
ILGM
Can you restrict a owner of land from growing marijuana?
Trying to find plants and seeds in NM right now is hard. Although adult recreational use, possession and cultivation has been legal since June 29, 2021, recreational sales won’t begin until sometime between now and April 1, 2022. I am growing my own. I can’t wait that long to buy and be able to smoke and relax.
Yes, up to 6 plants per person, 12 plants/household maximum. But they must not be visible to the public
Dispensaries offer them from time to time. The best thing to do is probably sign up for notification texts from each dispensary
Can you grow in a New Mexico backyard after June 29th
Can I grow in my backyard after June 29th?
N/A
Question? How far away from a public school do you have to live to have a grow?
recreational mj can now be grown in NM! 6 plants per person or 12 per household/.
I’m still trying to find out if you can grow on tribal land the year of 2019 if it got past by law if you apply for a ppl yes or no look what happen to picuris pueblo 2018 got raided
Yes was wondering if the despenseris here in LasCruces need properties so they can grow on for their business…if so please let know m….. thank you for your time
What constitutes a mature plant according to the law? One that’s ready to be chopped, or a certain week of flowering? That’s pretty vague for a law.
Can I rent space to apartment dwellers that have a medical caredso they can grow their own medical cannabis
In NM you can only grow if you are the property owner at the grow site, or if you obtain written permission from the property management if you are a renter. Caregivers may only grow at their patient’s property, and you may be a caregiver for no more than two patients. The possession limit is 230 units, (or 8 oz.).
Its more of a question than a comment ….
Where can I buy clones in abq NM
[…] The cannabis industry is already expanding in New Mexico, although most policy changes are quite young in the state. MJ Biz Daily has reported in a recent article that an American medical marijuana company has already created an international partnership with an Israeli firm in the same industry to start a joint MMJ (medical marijuana) business in New Mexico. […]