In November of 2018, voters in Utah approved what is known as Proposition 2. This legislation legalized medical cannabis for patients who fell under one of the categories on the state’s list of approved conditions. By December of that year, the law went into effect, but was later subject to tighter restrictions that made it more difficult for people to gain access to medical marijuana in Utah.
Since then, revisions have been made to the law that make having a medical marijuana card in Utah easier, such as prohibiting discrimination against people who use medical cannabis products in certain legal matters (such as family court).
More changes were enacted in 2020, which granted more patients access to medical marijuana as well as removing any laws surrounding criminal penalties for patients. After all these changes, more people than ever can treat the symptoms of their conditions with MMJ. So if you’re wondering “How can I get a medical marijuana card in Utah?”, read on as we cover everything you need to know!
Is it easy to get a medical card in Utah?
The process to get a medical marijuana card in Utah is straightforward for people who qualify. The law states that people with qualifying conditions have to meet certain requirements, including:
- Being a Utah resident
- Submitting an application
- Meeting with a doctor who is registered to recommend medical cannabis in-person
- Having certified eligibility for medical marijuana use
- Paying a $15 application fee
People must be 21 years of age to apply for an MMJ card in Utah on their own. If a person is under the age of 21, their parent or legal guardian must also qualify for a medical marijuana card for the person to get one for themselves.
Once a patient submits their application with all the required documentation, it will be reviewed. This process can take up to 15 days. For minors, the review process can take up to 90 days.
Can you get a medical card online in Utah?
The process to get a medical marijuana card in Utah isn’t fully online, but the application is submitted through online channels. The application fee of $15 will also need to be submitted online. That being said, while the application and fee can be submitted online, the person looking to obtain a Utah medical marijuana card must meet with a doctor in person, as mentioned above.
What qualifies you for a medical card in Utah?
According to the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, a person must have one of the following conditions to be considered for a medical marijuana card in the state:
- HIV/AIDS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Cachexia
- Persistent nausea that isn’t related to a cannabis-induced vomiting syndrome or pregnancy
- Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Epilepsy or other seizures disorders that are debilitating
- Multiple sclerosis or muscle spasms that are both persistent and debilitating
- Post-traumatic stress disorder that is also being treated in therapy
- Autism
- Terminal illness in which a person has fewer than six months to live
- A disease that requires care in hospice
- Any rare condition or disease that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States and isn’t responding to other forms of treatment
- Chronic pain that lasts longer than two weeks and isn’t managed with conventional medicines
While this list outlines the qualifying conditions, there is a caveat for people whose ailment doesn’t fall under any of the conditions. If a person has a disease, disorder, or syndrome that could respond to medical marijuana but isn’t approved in the above list, they can petition the Compassionate Use Board to argue their case for a medical marijuana card. These approvals are given on a case-by-case basis.
What are the rules surrounding getting a medical card in Utah?
There are rules surrounding how much and what types of products are available to patients with medical marijuana cards in Utah. The types of products available include:
- Tablets
- Capsules
- Concentrated oils
- Liquid suspensions
- Transdermal preparations
- Gelatinous cubes
- Cannabis flower that is unprocessed
- Wax or resin
- Devices to use cannabis, such as vape pens that heat the marijuana without a flame
Edible products such as candies, cookies, or brownies are prohibited, as is smoking cannabis.
When a Utah MMJ patient purchases their medical marijuana, they must have less than a 30-day treatment supply based on the dosage recommendation given by their doctor. The supply must not be greater than 113 grams of flower or 20 grams of total THC.
The medical marijuana laws in Utah continue to transform month by month, but for now, getting a medical marijuana card in Utah is a simple process for those who qualify for the use of cannabis as medicine.
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