Last verified: March 2026
All 30 Qualifying Conditions
The following conditions qualify a patient for New Mexico's Medical Cannabis Program under the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act. The list has expanded significantly since the original 2007 law through periodic reviews by the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board:
| # | Condition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alzheimer's Disease | |
| 2 | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) | |
| 3 | Anxiety | Added in later expansion |
| 4 | Autism Spectrum Disorder | |
| 5 | Cancer | Original 2007 condition |
| 6 | Crohn's Disease | |
| 7 | Damage to the Nervous Tissue of the Spinal Cord | |
| 8 | Epilepsy / Seizure Disorder | |
| 9 | Friedreich's Ataxia | Rare genetic neurological condition |
| 10 | Glaucoma | Original 2007 condition |
| 11 | Hepatitis C | |
| 12 | HIV/AIDS | Original 2007 condition |
| 13 | Hospice Care (any terminal illness) | |
| 14 | Huntington's Disease | |
| 15 | Inclusion Body Myositis | Rare inflammatory muscle disease |
| 16 | Inflammatory Arthritis | |
| 17 | Insomnia | Added in later expansion |
| 18 | Intractable Nausea/Vomiting | |
| 19 | Lewy Body Disease | Neurodegenerative condition |
| 20 | Multiple Sclerosis | |
| 21 | Obstructive Sleep Apnea | |
| 22 | Opioid Use Disorder | Reflects harm reduction approach |
| 23 | Painful Peripheral Neuropathy | |
| 24 | Parkinson's Disease | |
| 25 | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | First state to approve |
| 26 | Severe Anorexia / Cachexia | Wasting syndrome |
| 27 | Severe Chronic Pain | Most common qualifying condition |
| 28 | Spasmodic Torticollis (Cervical Dystonia) | |
| 29 | Spinal Muscular Atrophy | Genetic neuromuscular condition |
| 30 | Ulcerative Colitis |
New Mexico: First State for PTSD
New Mexico holds a significant distinction in medical cannabis history: it was the first state in the nation to approve PTSD as a qualifying condition. This was groundbreaking at a time when most states restricted medical cannabis to a narrow list of physical conditions. The decision reflected New Mexico's large veteran population, many of whom were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD and limited treatment options.
Today, PTSD is one of the most commonly cited qualifying conditions in New Mexico's program, and dozens of other states have followed New Mexico's lead in adding it to their own lists.
The Medical Cannabis Advisory Board
New Mexico's qualifying conditions are not static. The Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, established under the Compassionate Use Act, reviews petitions to add new conditions to the list. The board evaluates medical evidence, hears testimony from patients and practitioners, and makes recommendations to the NMDOH.
The board's work is why the list has grown from a handful of conditions in 2007 to the current 30. Conditions like anxiety, insomnia, opioid use disorder, and autism were added in later rounds of review as the evidence base expanded and patient advocates made their cases.
Severe Chronic Pain: The Most Common Condition
Severe chronic pain is by far the most frequently cited qualifying condition in New Mexico, as it is nationally. This category covers a wide range of underlying causes — back injuries, fibromyalgia, arthritis, neuropathy, and other persistent pain conditions that have not responded adequately to conventional treatments.
If you have chronic pain that has been documented by a healthcare provider, you likely qualify under this category. Your certifying practitioner will need to confirm that the condition is severe and that conventional treatments have been tried or considered.
If you have a condition not on this list, you can petition the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board to add it. The board reviews petitions periodically and evaluates the medical evidence. Contact NMDOH at 505-827-2321 for petition procedures.
For in-depth cannabis education, dosing guides, safety information, and research summaries, visit our partner site TryCannabis.org
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