For years, Utah patients had to navigate a confusing two-tiered system just to figure out which doctors could legally recommend cannabis. This summer, the state finally cut through the red tape and made things easier. As of July 1, all cannabis-recommending providers—whether fully certified or previously limited—now fall under one unified title: Registered Recommending Medical Provider, or RMP.
For years, patients were forced to navigate a frustrating alphabet soup: QMPs had full recommending authority, while LMPs had strict limitations and barely showed up in the state’s system. Now, thanks to House Bill 357, that distinction is gone. Any licensed provider who completes the state’s cannabis training and registers through the Electronic Verification System (EVS) is considered an RMP, plain and simple.
Providers are required to complete at least four hours of cannabis-specific education, which can be done through a formal course or informal self-study. The training is flexible by design—recognizing that many providers already have relevant experience or have been independently learning for years.
Even better, registration with the Department of Health and Human Services is no longer required to recommend cannabis—removing yet another barrier. The goal is clear: make it easier for patients to get support without forcing their doctors through unnecessary bureaucracy.
As of June, Utah had 986 RMPs statewide—but access remains uneven. Counties like Salt Lake, Weber, and Utah have the highest concentration of providers, while rural areas such as Kane and Millard report only one or two. In some parts of the state, including San Juan and Garfield, there are no registered providers at all.
This is your chance to help shape the future of medical cannabis in Utah. Talk to your doctor about becoming an RMP. With the new rules, any licensed provider can make the switch with just a few hours of cannabis education—and no state registration required. You could skip the overpriced clinics and get certified by someone who already knows your medical history, often for nothing more than a regular copay. It’s more affordable, more personal, and long overdue.
