March 1, 2020 was a big day for Utah, the day medical Cannabis became a reality in this state After the Prop 2 debacle, and its replacement, the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, many Utahns have since been left wondering if, and how, to qualify for medical cannabis.
Inevitably, there are many physicians who outright reject Cannabis as a medication. There’s also plenty of good news. It appears both major healthcare providers, and State interests have a plan for allowing patient access The plant.
Luckily we were able to talk to some industry leaders to help sort some of the confusion out in the process of getting your cannabis card.
Many Utah doctors’ offices are opening their doors to medical cannabis. If you’re hunting for a physician, here’s a thing or two to keep in mind. Doctors who can provide medical cannabis referrals must be State registered QMPs (Qualified Medical Provider). These doctors are Utah-licensed physicians (MD, DO), advanced practice registered nurses, or a Physician’s Assistant (PA) licensed to prescribe a controlled substance.
Keep in mind, only QMPs may submit your medical Cannabis card application to the State for review and approval.
Fortunately, patients can apply for a Utah medical Cannabis card online. This limits travel time and unnecessary exposure to COVID-19. Once your application is approved, patients must renew it every 6 months.
The Utah.gov website is a great way to find QMPs. You’ll find an ever-growing list of Utah providers who are qualified to prescribe medical Cannabis.
Do I Qualify?
Utah is running their medical cannabis program a little bit differently than other states. Utah’s program strongly emphasizes that medical cannabis is only for qualified medical patients. It seems Utah doesn’t want people just “getting stoned.”
Two things to keep in mind about how to qualify for a Utah Medical Cannabis Card. First, patients must have a qualifying condition. Second, patients must have made previous, documentable efforts to manage their condition in other ways. If pain is the issue, your pain must have lasted longer than two weeks, and it has not been adequately treated through a non-opioid treatment, or at least two physical interventions, such as chiropractic care.
Here is a complete list of qualifying conditions from Utah.gov.
Qualifying Conditions for a Utah Medical Cannabis Card HIV or AIDS Alzheimer’s disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Cancer Cachexia Persistent nausea (which is not significantly responsive to traditional treatment and is not related to pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome) Crohn’s Disease / Ulcerative Colitis Epilepsy / debilitating seizures Multiple sclerosis or persistent muscle spasms Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD which is treated by a licensed mental health therapist and has been diagnosed wither by the VA or through an evaluation by a qualified mental health specialist) Autism Terminal illness with less than six months life expectancy A condition resulting in the patient receiving hospice care A rare condition or disease that affects less than 200,000 individuals in the United States and is not adequately managed by a non-opioid or physical intervention.
Now that we know about what conditions qualify, the next step in the application process is speaking to your doctor, or State registered QMP. Once that’s done, Utah sends out Medical Cannabis Cards electronically, within 14 days of application approval.
You will receive a Utah State Affirmative Defense Letter from your QMP, which makes it legit for you to possess and use medical cannabis for a period of 12-months from the time you receive your letter defense letter. Once patients receive their letters, they may purchase medical Cannabis from any approved pharmaceutical dispensary in Utah. Fourteen are about to pop-up around the State.
Expect changes in this legislation over the next few years, even sweeping ones. In recent months, Utah Cannabis laws have changed time and again. Think about it, regulations such as flower product bubble pack requirements are now gone.
Despite the kinks in Utah’s Medical Cannabis Card system, at least we know an end to the mess and confusion is in sight. Yes, I’m optimistic. Utah policy will eventually see a streamlining in its processes that will make it easier for patients to access needed care and medications. Let’s be patient with them.
“I’m glad Utah is taking the right steps towards medical cannabis for patients who really need it, said Keith Taylor, a current medical Cannabis patient. “Some days my pain is so unbearable I can’t even get out of bed. But now, I have a form of relief that actually helps!”
