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HB 283NEW MEXICOSession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

New Mexico bill requires health care facilities to permit medical cannabis use under specific storage rules

Original title: USE OF CANNABIS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Last action · February 2, 2026: Not PrintedSponsor: Pamelya Herndon

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 283 requires New Mexico health care facilities to allow s to use medical cannabis on-site, provided that smoking and vaping are prohibited and storage follows written facility guidelines. Facilities may suspend compliance if federal agencies initiate enforcement action or issue prohibitions related to medical cannabis.

Why it matters

The measure directly affects s seeking to use medical cannabis during care stays and establishes new operational guidelines and storage protocols for New Mexico hospitals, outpatient centers, and hospices.

Background

New Mexico legalized medical cannabis under the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, enacted in 2007. context
House Bill 283 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the New Mexico Legislature by Representative Pamelya Herndon. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

qualified patients

Qualified patients gain the legal right to use medical cannabis within covered health care facilities under specific storage and consumption rules.

Directly affected

health care facilities

Hospitals, hospices, and outpatient centers must develop written guidelines, enforce locked storage requirements, and permit non-smoked medical cannabis use.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can patients smoke or vape medical cannabis inside a New Mexico hospital under this bill?

No. The bill explicitly prohibits smoking or vaping cannabis within health care facilities.

What storage requirements apply to medical cannabis in a health care facility?

Facilities must enforce reasonable restrictions, which include requiring medical cannabis to be kept in a locked container.

Are substance abuse rehabilitation facilities required to allow medical cannabis?

No. Facilities that primarily provide rehabilitation and treatment for persons recovering from a substance use disorder are excluded from the definition of in this bill.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.

Procedural history

1 action

Feb 2, 2026New Mexico Legislature
Not Printed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Pamelya Herndon, United States Department of Justice, Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act and 1 more

PersonPamelya Herndon“Introduced House Bill 283 in the New Mexico legislature.”Map →

OrganizationUnited States Department of Justice“Federal agency whose enforcement actions can trigger a suspension of facility co”Map →

otherLynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act“The existing New Mexico act amended by this bill.”Map →

OrganizationCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services“Federal agency whose rules or notifications can trigger a suspension of facility”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.nmlegis.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 55)
Controversy45
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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