Utah's Medical Cannabis Patient Tracking Journal: A Good Idea

1. Utah's Medical Cannabis Patient Tracking Journal: A Good Idea Prescription cannabis in Utah is available to patients possessing state-issued medical cannabis cards. To get a card, you must visit with a qualified doctor, NP, or PA capable of recommending cannabis for your particular medical condition. In addition, the state offers a patient tracking journal. The law does not require patients to use the journal, but keeping records is a good idea. You can download a PDF copy of the journal directly from Utah's medical cannabis website. The document can be printed and manually completed at your leisure. You can then submit the information to your clinician or cannabis dispensary at your next visit. Likewise, you can complete the form with an electronic device if you have an app for editing PDF files. Information in the Journal The patient-tracking journal is a two-page document with a few introductory paragraphs and a table that patients fill out. The table includes enough entries for five days of treatment. Of course, you can print as many copies as you need. The table also contains seven columns:  Date– This is the date you are recording entries for. In other words, it is the date of medical cannabis use corresponding to the rest of the information you enter. Product Description– This would be the type or strain of cannabis used. Dosage– This is the amount of cannabis you used and, if necessary, the frequency for that date. Method of Consumption– Your delivery method. Just list the form (i.e., tablet, capsule, etc.).   

2.  Before Use– This column contains several entries for documenting your symptoms. They include pain, agitation, nausea, and more. After Use– This column is identical to the previous except that you are documenting symptoms after cannabis use. Post-Use Report– This final column is where you report any side effects that you care to mention. You are also free to describe the severity of the said side effects.   For the before and after use columns, the journal is looking for grades between 1 and 10. The higher the number, the more severe the symptoms. Purpose of the Journal Again, the use of the journal is not required by law. The introductory paragraphs on the journal document explicitly state that "this journal is completely optional to use" and that "patient and/or caregivers have no requirement to use this journal". However, the state does politely request that cannabis users take advantage of the journal. To what end? To help doctors, PAs, and NPs understand the effects of medical marijuana for certain conditions. The state wants clinicians to better understand how medical cannabis is helping their patients. Assuming the goal is that medical professionals utilize medical cannabis more effectively on behalf of their patients, they need as much information as they can get their hands on. To this end, using this journal provides much-needed data. Speak with Your Doctor Regularly Here at Deseret Wellness, we take no position on the journal except to say that keeping track of things is a good idea. Whether or not you use it, we recommend that you speak to your doctor regularly. Your doctor needs to know how effective cannabis is for treating your condition. The more information you provide, the better equipped your doctor will be to advise you on your health. As always, do not hesitate to speak with your doctor if your chosen delivery method or the recommended dosage is not working for you. Your doctor – or NP or PA, as the case might be – is the most qualified person to assist you in getting the most from prescription cannabis in Utah.