Utah has some of the most restrictive purchase limits in the country—but how many patients are actually hitting those caps?
According to recent data from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, only 30 to 50 patients per month (out of roughly 100,000) reach the 113-gram flower limit in a 28-day cycle. That’s less than 0.05% of all active patients. For non-flower products, like vapes and edibles, 0 to 20 patients a month hit the 20-gram THC cap.
While that may sound like the system is working as intended, advocates argue it’s a sign the limits are too low for patients with higher needs—especially those treating chronic conditions. The data shows:
- 75% of patients didn’t purchase any flower at all in a given month.
- 19% bought less than 28 grams (just one ounce).
- For non-flower products, 53% didn’t buy any, and another 37% bought less than 5 grams of THC.
That means very few patients are even coming close to maxing out, but the handful who do may be left without enough medicine before the 28-day window resets.
The takeaway? Most patients are well within the limits—but for those who aren’t, the caps may be creating unnecessary barriers to care. And with the state’s Electronic Verification System (EVS) already tracking every purchase, the risk of abuse is extremely low.
As Utah’s medical cannabis program matures, it may be time to revisit these limits—and allow more flexibility for the patients who genuinely need it.
