Whether you’re a long-time user of cannabis products for medical conditions or a recent participant with Utah’s medical cannabis program, it is important to remember you need to share information about your regular or occasional medical cannabis with any medical provider that might be working to diagnose you with a condition, keep you healthy (such as in pregnancy), or who is treating you with over the counter or prescription medications.
Combining cannabis with certain pharmaceuticals can impact the levels of certain drugs in your blood making side effects more likely or lessen the intended effects of the medication. The way your body processes blood thinners, blood pressure medicines, seizure medicines, pain medicines, antibiotics, and medicines for mood conditions can be affected by cannabis. If you are planning a medical procedure that requires sedation or anesthesia, make sure to tell your doctor about your cannabis use as certain medications in the operating room are potentially affected by cannabis levels in the blood. Tell your doctor so they can prescribe medications safely.
For women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy, THC crosses the placenta and can affect the development of the fetus at very early stages. No level of cannabis product use is considered safe for pregnancy. Women who could become pregnant (sexually active and not on a reliable birth control) should not use cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds. If you are taking cannabis products and become pregnant, stop the medication and let your health care provider know so they can ensure you and your pregnancy are as healthy as possible.
When you visit your doctor with a symptom or symptoms and they try to determine what tests you need or decide about your diagnosis, share information on how you use cannabis products. Cannabis products can affect balance, blood pressure, heart rate, and cannabidiol can cause liver enzymes to increase. You can help your doctor make good decisions when you are honest and open about cannabis product use.
The Utah Department of Health Center for Medical Cannabis continues to work with the medical community to educate on the qualified medical uses of cannabis and share the latest information. We are a resource for both Qualified Medical Providers and all clinicians who care for patients participating in Utah’s medical cannabis program. More information can be found at https://medicalcannabis.utah.gov/.
Quick Facts About the Utah Medical Cannabis Program as of August 26, 2021:
● 36,000 active medical cannabis patient cardholders.
● 264 medical cannabis caregivers.
● 780 qualified medical providers (QMPs) recommend medical cannabis to qualifying patients.
● 14 medical cannabis pharmacies are now open to serve Utah patients.
● A 15th medical cannabis pharmacy will open in a rural area later this year.
● 3 medical cannabis pharmacies are approved to provide home delivery service to qualifying patients.
● 67 pharmacists work in Utah’s medical cannabis pharmacies.
● 325 registered pharmacy agents.
● 31 medical cannabis courier agents.
*This article was submitted by Dr. Sarah Woolsey, Division Director, Utah Department of Health, Division of Family Health and Preparedness, Qualified Medical Provider (QMP)
