Legislature Working on Improving Utah Medical Cannabis Law - PDF document

Legislature Working on Improving Utah Medical Cannabis Law Voters approved the referendum that led to Utah's medical cannabis program back in 2018. In the years since, state legislators have had their plates full attempting to craft a working program. The state has come a long way since then. Yet there is still more work to be done. Lawmakers are now working on two changes that patients should be happy with. As one of the first cannabis pharmacies in Utah, we have seen firsthand how access to this medicine helps patients. We have also followed the legal process to open our Provo pharmacy and then expand to Park City. As such, we've seen both sides of the coin. We have seen patient needs balanced against state regulations. So what is the legislature attempting to do now? There are two changes currently being discussed. The first would make it easier for doctors to participate. The second would allow current patients using medical cannabis without a state-issued card limited legal protection while they work on obtaining one. Getting More Doctors on Board Despite the number of doctors currently registered as qualified medical providers (QMPs), there aren't enough actually helping patients get their medical cannabis cards. Yet as a licensed medical marijuana dispensary, we cannot serve patients who don't have cards. That becomes a problem, especially for patients unable to find a QMP in their local areas. Fox 13 News noted in a recent report that the lack of QMPs has led to a number of licensed clinics cropping up in Salt Lake City, Provo, and a few of the other metropolitan areas in the state. Such clinics offer a much-needed service. However, some of them charge exorbitant fees. As far as legislators are concerned, this is a competition issue. If there were more medical providers participating in the program, fees would likely go down. Senate Bill 170 (SB170) is designed to do just that. Among other things, the bill allows medical providers to act as "limited medical providers to recommend cannabis to a limited number of the provider’s patients without registering… as a qualified medical provider." In short, the bill allows doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to recommend medical cannabis, under limited circumstances, without having to register with the state. That's big. Limited Legal Relief Senate Bill 170 also addresses the legal problem created when the law allowing letters of recommendation expired on December 31. If you're not aware, cannabis dispensaries like Deseret Wellness can no longer accept letters of recommendation from a doctor. Without a medical cannabis card, you cannot legally purchase prescription cannabis from a dispensary. Unfortunately, that has forced some patients to go back to purchasing their cannabis products on the street. SB170 seeks to offer some limited relief by shielding patients from prosecution should they be found in possession without a state-issued card. The qualifier would be proof that the patient is attempting to get a card. We Are Making Progress The medical Cannabis program in Utah has seen more patients than initially expected, and our cannabis pharmacies in Provo and Park City are no exception. This tells us that there is a genuine need for medical cannabis in the state of Utah. It is available thanks to voters standing up and passing the original referendum in 2018. Is Utah's medical cannabis law perfect? No, and it might never be. But we are making progress. If you are affected by either of the two issues described in this post, contact your legislators and let your voice be heard. Making SB170 law would be a good thing for patients, medical providers, and the medical cannabis industry as a whole.