Apply for a Utah Medical Marijuana Card

The Status of Cannabis Legalization in Utah

In recent Utah cannabis news, House Bill 204 was heard by state legislators. This bill seeks to protect parents’ right to be part of Utah’s medical cannabis program. Additionally, House Bill 72 seeks to allow medical cannabis pharmacies to deliver medical cannabis to qualified, state-registered patients.

Utah’s statewide medical cannabis program was voted into law in 2018, and the state has finally opened all 14 cannabis dispensaries outlined in Prop 2. 

For now, the more than 2,800 registered cardholders in the statewide medical cannabis program are beholden to only a handful of dispensaries. The upside to the downside of limited dispensaries is that Utah allows the sale of cannabis in several forms including tablet, capsule, concentrated oil, liquid suspension, topical preparation, transdermal preparation, gelatinous cube, Unprocessed cannabis flower in a blister pack containing no more than one gram of flower pods in each individual blister, and wax or resin. 

As state and federal laws continue to change from year to year on medicinal and recreational cannabis use, assuredly Utah will be modifying its program as patients and citizens demand Utah keep up with what they promised. 

Possession of Medical Cannabis Prior to 2021

Prior to January 2021, under Utah law, patients meeting certain criteria outlined in the Medical Cannabis Act may legally possess medical cannabis without a medical cannabis card. Compliance with the Utah Medical Cannabis Act may not protect patients from liability for violations of federal law or the laws of other states. Questions regarding this provision of the law are best answered by an attorney who can provide legal counsel specific to an individual’s situation.

Medical marijuana Patients 18 and older, a parent or legal guardian of a minor patient, and designated caregivers may purchase medical cannabis. Each must have a Utah medical cannabis card.

Utah Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions

According to the state, medical cannabis in Utah is also available to allow residents who suffer from “pain lasting longer than two weeks that is not adequately managed, in the qualified medical provider’s opinion, despite treatment attempts using conventional medications other than opioids or opiates or physical interventions” or have “a rare condition or disease that affects less than 200,000 individuals in the U.S., as defined in federal law, and that is not adequately managed despite treatment attempts using conventional medications (other than opioids or opiates) or physical interventions.”

Conditions qualifying patients for medical cannabis under the Utah Medical Cannabis Program include:

• A rare condition or disease affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S., as defined by federal law, and that is not adequately managed despite treatment attempts using conventional medications (other than opioids or opiates) or physical interventions.
• A terminal illness when the patient’s life expectancy is less than six months
• An illness requiring hospice care
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease
• Autism
• Cachexia, or wasting syndrome
• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorders
• HIV/AIDS
• Multiple sclerosis or persistent and debilitating muscle spasms
• Ongoing and debilitating pain
• Persistent nausea that is not significantly responsive to traditional treatment, except for nausea related to:
  • Pregnancy
  • Cannabis-Induced Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome
  • Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that is being treated and monitored by a licensed health therapist and that:
  • Has been diagnosed by a healthcare provider by the Veterans Administration and documented in the patient’s record; or
  • Has been diagnosed or confirmed by the evaluation from a psychiatrist, doctorate psychologist, a doctorate licensed clinical social worker, or a psychiatric APRN

Along with having qualifying medical conditions, a patient applying for the medical cannabis program in Utah must prove their residency with a valid driver’s license or current state identification card. The annual card registration fee is $50 and must be paid when approved. 

If you don’t have one of the qualifying medical conditions listed, your certified physician can appeal to the Compassionate Use Board if they feel your condition can benefit from the use of medical marijuana. 

Laws for Registered Caregivers

Utah has set up a caregiver application process completely online, beginning with the registered patient designating a caregiver on their application. After a caregiver has been named, they must prove they are a Utah resident with a valid driver’s license or current state identification card. The caregiver must also undergo a background check to be approved for the Guardian Card. Once approved, a caregiver license fee of $68.25 must be paid. If the caregiver has two patients, the secondary license is only $15.

Possession and Cultivation

Utah has specific possession laws regarding medical cannabis, reporting a patient is not allowed “more than 113 grams of unprocessed cannabis (raw bud or flower in blister packs),” or “more than 20 grams of total composite THC in all other medicinal dosage forms. There is absolutely no cultivation of cannabis allowed in Utah. 

Application Process for a Medical Marijuana Card in Utah

The application process for any Utah resident looking for a Medical cannabis patient card must be done by completing the following steps: 

• First, you’ll need to meet with a qualified medical provider (QMP) registered with the state of Utah to evaluate your medical condition. Luckily Veriheal can provide you with one so you won’t have to locate a qualified provider yourself. Remember: Don’t start your application process without meeting with your QMP first. 
• Next, go to id.utah.gov and create a Utah ID account. This account allows you to access different state applications all in one place. Here you’ll be able to start your application inside the electronic verification system (EVS). Your QMP will be able to issue your medical cannabis recommendation once your EVS profile is created. There’s a $15 application fee to send the application online to the Utah Department of Health (UDOH).
• After the Utah Department of Health receives and later reviews the application there is a 15 day turnaround time from the date the application is submitted for approval or denial if the patient is 21 years of age or older. The Compassionate Use Board will review applications for patients under 21 years of age and adult patients without a qualifying condition. The turnaround time for those applications are 90 days or less from the date the application is submitted.
• When the application is approved the Utah Department of Health will email your medical cannabis card. 
• After receiving your card you’ll be able to legally purchase medical cannabis products in Utah. To buy marijauna from a medical cannabis pharmacy you need to have your cannabis card along with a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID or passport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Places to Visit in Utah After Enjoying Your Medicine

The natural wonders of Zion and Arches National Park seen in Utah are unforgettable, drawing thousands of visitors to the Beehive State every year. Whether it is skiing, scenic drives and off-road pursuits, hiking, biking, or camping, being in Utah offers many adventures. What makes the state even more interesting is based on its elevation, one can hike in the heat in one area of Utah, and the same day ski down a snowy mountain. Other areas of Utah frequented by visitors and locals alike are the Canyonlands and the Bryce Canyon National Parks and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. For those who love the water, the Great Salt Lake is where to go. Next time taking a trip to the dispensary is planned, make a little extra time to stop at any of Utah’s most notable neck of the woods.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Just as it sounds, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is a light crimson adult sandbox. Formed by the wind, the everchanging dunes are huge mounds to be explored. Whether walking, sandboarding, or riding an ATV, the state park has many ways to play all afternoon long. Many come for the beauty alone, making a popular photography spot to take in click after click. For those who need more than a day to take it all in, a nearby campground on the dunes' edge makes a stargazing sleepover possible.

Natural Bridges National Monument

The three Mother Nature made bridges of Kachina, Owachomo, and Sipapu are securely footed to the earth for all to see. While all three bridges can be climbed, Sipapu Bridge is the most popular of all, giving hikers a 1.2 mile round trip of steep rock stairs and ladders. Considered a little easier, Kachina Bridge is a 1.5-mile round trip hike with less climbing involved. Also on site is the Horsecollar Ruins, which is the remains of 700-year-old Native American edifices.

St. George

A family-friendly town, the St. George Children’s Museum is one stop that many make when in town, starting off the trip with interactive exhibits and demonstrations. Town Square Park, made up of huge rock slabs, and Red Hills Desert Garden, filled with colorful cactus and flowers, are also great ways to enjoy St. George. A short drive out of town brings visitors and locals alike to the Kayenta Art Village, a community of beauty and relaxation. Made up of art galleries, a day spa, quaint shops, and a cafe, makes a stay in the area unforgettable.