An Overview of Medical Cannabis Laws in Utah

1. An Overview of Medical Cannabis Laws in Utah It is our pleasure to serve patients in Utah looking to obtain medical cannabis. Thanks to a ballot proposition passed in 2018 and a subsequent compromise law drafted by state legislators in early 2020, patients in need of cannabis to treat qualifying conditions now have access to it. Being that all of this is so new to our state, we thought it might benefit our customers to provide a basic overview of medical cannabis laws in Utah. Note that this overview does not constitute legal advice, nor does it endorse your use of cannabis for any reason. Whether or not you use it is between you, your doctor, and your pharmacist. Medical but Not Recreational Use The most important thing to know about marijuana in Utah is that it is not fully deregulated. Cannabis products are legal for medical use but not recreational. As such, cannabis pharmacies– like Deseret Wellness – do not dispense to anyone who walks in off the street. Patients must have either a Letter of Recommendation from a doctor or a state-issued Medical Cannabis Card. Note that letters of recommendation will only be acceptable through the end of the year. Beginning January 1, 2021 only a state-issued card will be acceptable at pharmacies. Those wishing to obtain a card must apply online via the Utah Department of Health's dedicated website.

2. Only for Qualifying Conditions Next, medical cannabis is only available to patients suffering from qualifying conditions. These qualifying conditions include, but are not limited to:        Alzheimer's disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Autism Cancer Crohn's disease Epilepsy HIV or AIDS In addition to these and a few other conditions not on the list, the law allows for medical cannabis among patients suffering from chronic pain (under certain conditions), a terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than six months, and any condition that requires hospice care. Medical Cannabis Form Factors It is still illegal to smoke marijuana in Utah. State law allows for medical cannabis via a number of form factors including tablets, capsules, concentrated oils, liquid suspensions, and a few others. Our patients can speak with on-site pharmacists to determine the best form factor for them. Note that regardless of form factor, we are limited in how much cannabis we can sell to patients. Likewise, patients are limited in the amount of cannabis they can possess at any one time. Feel free to check out the FAQ section of our website to find out about these limits. Obtaining a Medical Cannabis Card Finally, obtaining a state-issued card will be non-negotiable as of the first of the year 2021. If you are currently relying on a Letter of Recommendation, a state-issued card is better because it gives you access to medical cannabis at dispensaries throughout the state. In order to obtain a card, you must:       be a Utah resident be diagnosed with a qualifying illness complete and submit an application online meet with a state-registered medical provider obtain eligibility certification from that medical provider pay the application fee (currently set at $15). Minors under the age of 21 cannot get a medical cannabis card unless a parent or legal guardian gets one as well. Minors must also present their cases to the Compassionate Use Board in order to be eligible. The Board will always have the final say. Medical marijuana has finally come to Utah. Our patients now have access to a full variety of cannabis products through our dispensaries. We could not be happier to serve them as they seek better ways to treat their illnesses.