Program momentum continues as April marks single-biggest cardholder gain in the last 12 months

(Albuquerque) – Patient enrollment in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program reached 115,732 patients as of April 30, 2021, according to recent data released by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). This represents an increase of 25,810 patients or 29% over April 2020 enrollment. 

Along with the enrolled patients, the program is serving 9,781 reciprocal participants, according to data released by NMDOH. 

April’s cardholder gain marked the biggest jump in enrollment, a total of 3,549 total patients or 118 patients each day, in a one-month period since April 2020. Patient participation in the program has ballooned over the past five years, with 2020 marking the industry’s single-biggest enrollment year gain of 24,398 patients since the inception of the program in 2007. 

The following counties with at least 1,000 cardholders reported the fastest patient enrollment growth rates since April 2020:

County	Percent Change	Total Cardholders Gained
Lea County	38%	787
Doña Ana County	37%	2,837
Curry County	33%	650
Eddy County	32%	782
Valencia County	32%	1,016
San Juan County	31%	568
Bernalillo County	30%	8,853
Sandoval County	30%	1,888
Otero County	30%	942
Sierra County	30%	384

Patients in rural counties are gaining access to dispensaries, resulting in overall patient enrollment continuing to climb. The state’s 33 licensed cannabis providers will need to ramp up production significantly to serve medical purchasers as well as non-medical consumers who will purchase cannabis once legalized sales commence. 

Pursuant to the Cannabis Regulation Act passed earlier this year, legalized cannabis sales must begin no later than April 1, 2022. The Cannabis Control Division, a newly-created division within the Regulation and Licensing Department, may allow sales to begin sooner once rules are promulgated. 

Under the Cannabis Regulation Act, the Cannabis Control Division shall not limit the number of licenses that may be awarded to conduct commercial cannabis activity, including licenses for medical and non-medical operators. Medical cannabis sales will be exempt from the Cannabis Excise Tax and deducted from New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax, which has been promoted as an incentive for medical purchasers to stay in the Medical Cannabis Program.