(AP) - A state district court judge is standing by his initial decision to allow access to New Mexico's medical cannabis program by people who live outside the state.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid said Monday that recent changes to New Mexico's medical marijuana statute clearly allow nonresidents to enroll for treatment of qualified medical conditions with cannabis.

Medical Cannabis Program Manager Kenny Vigil said the state will appeal the judge's final decision to a higher court and declined to say whether the state would issue medical marijuana cards to out-of-state residents.

Biedscheid declined a motion aimed at holding Vigil in contempt of court for not issuing medical marijuana cards to out-of-state residents.

Medical cannabis entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez of Ultra Health says the decision marks progress toward a more uniform national system for access to medical marijuana that transcends state boundaries.

Texas limits the psychoactive ingredient THC in its medical marijuana, and dispensaries are sparse in many areas where New Mexico borders Arizona.