New Mexico's Medical Cannabis History

Have you ever been mid-toke and stopped to wonder how the medical cannabis program we’ve come to know in New Mexico was established? Who can we thank for our right to medicate? 

The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act

The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act was the first medical cannabis law in the nation, enacted on February 21, 1978, thanks to two cancer patients named Lynn Pierson and Erin Armstrong. Both found relief in managing their ailments with medical cannabis and championed the approval of New Mexico’s legislature involving the use of medical cannabis.

The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program (NMMCP) was later created in 2015 under the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act. According to New Mexico’s Department of Health, the state created the program to allow the beneficial use of medical cannabis in a regulated system for alleviating symptoms caused by debilitating medical conditions and their medical treatments.

Qualifying Conditions

The process to obtain a valid medical card is the same for both new and returning patients. In order to qualify, participants must receive a recommendation for a qualified medical professional to use medical cannabis to treat a qualifying condition.

The three most prevalent conditions being managed with medical cannabis in New Mexico are PTSD, severe chronic pain, and cancer, though there are many other qualifying conditions that you can view on the DOH website here.

Medical Cannabis Producers

Licensed Non-Profit Producers (LNPPs) serve patients of New Mexico. The goal is to ensure the safe production, distribution, and dispensing of medical cannabis to qualified patients. While there are many LNPPs serving New Mexico, Urban Wellness specifically focuses on creating potent, boutique-style cannabis with our state-of-the-art grow. 

Interested in learning how Urban produces our hand-crafted cannabis flower using our vertical grow system? View our blog post here.