What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Card in Utah (2024)

How Many Medical Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Treatment in Utah?

There are 16 qualifying medical conditions eligible for medical marijuana treatment under the Utah medical cannabis program.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Card in Utah 2024

• The Center for Medical Cannabis of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issues medical marijuana cards to patients diagnosed with one or more of the following qualifying medical conditions:
• HIV or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• Alzheimer's disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Cancer
• Cachexia
• Persistent nausea unresponsive to traditional treatment excluding nausea due to pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
• Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Epilepsy or debilitating seizures
• Multiple sclerosis or persistent and debilitating muscle spasms
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treated and monitored by a licensed health therapist and that:
• has been diagnosed by a healthcare provider of the Veterans Administration and documented in the patient's record; or
• has been diagnosed or confirmed by evaluation from a psychiatrist, masters prepared psychologist, a masters prepared licensed clinical social worker, or a psychiatric APRN
• Autism
• Terminal illness with expected life expectancy of less than 6 months
• Medical condition resulting in hospice care
• A rare condition or disease affecting fewer than 200,000 individuals in the U.S (as defined in federal law) and that is not adequately managed with conventional medications (other than opioids or opiates) or physical interventions
• Persistent pain lasting longer than two weeks that is not well-managed with conventional medications (other than opioids or opiates) or physical interventions
• Acute pain expected to last for 2 weeks or longer and caused by an acute condition, including a surgical procedure, otherwise managed with opioids for a limited duration

Does Utah Add New Qualifying Conditions to its Medical Marijuana Program?

Yes. The Utah medical cannabis program reviews petitions for adding new qualifying conditions through the Compassionate Use Board (CUB), a group of seven qualified medical providers appointed by the DHHS and approved by the Utah Senate. The CUB accepts petitions monthly and reviews them monthly too. It accepts patients from patients and qualified medical providers seeking the inclusion of debilitating medical conditions not currently on the list of qualifying conditions approved for medical cannabis use in Utah.

Does Utah Allow Physicians to Recommend Medical Cannabis for Non-Qualifying Conditions?

No. Qualified medical providers in Utah can only recommend medical cannabis for the conditions named on the state’s list of qualifying medical conditions. A patient or their medical provider who believes their debilitating or intractable condition should be included on this list must petition the CUB with proof that conventional treatment options are inadequate, that the condition severely impairs the patient’s quality of life, and that medical marijuana helps alleviate the condition.

Do You Need a Doctor’s Recommendation for Medical Marijuana in Utah?

Yes. To join the state’s medical cannabis program and obtain a medical marijuana card, a patient diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition must get a recommendation for medical cannabis from an eligible medical provider. Utah accepts recommendations issued by state-licensed:

• Doctors of Medicine (MDs)
• Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
• Physician Assistants (PAs)
• Podiatrists (DPMs)

Any Utah-licensed MD, DO, APRN, PA, or DPM also licensed to prescribe controlled substances may provide medical cannabis recommendations, as a limited medical provider (LMP), to qualifying patients aged 21 or older. An LMP cannot recommend more than 15 patients for medical cannabis in Utah. To become a qualified medical provider (QMP), an Utah-licensed MD, DO, APRN, PA, or DPM must also be licensed to prescribe a controlled substance and then register with the DHHS in the state’s medical cannabis program. The DHHS provides a list of QMPs who have chosen to have their information made public.

Who Qualifies for a Medical Marijuana Card in Utah?

Utah issues different medical cannabis cards to adult residents, minors, and non-residents. Patient cards are only available to adults aged 18 or older. Minors get provisional patient cards issued together with guardian cards for their parents or legal guardians. Every provisional cannabis card issued for minors under the age of 18 must be approved by the CUB. A non-Utah resident card is a temporary cannabis card issued to a visitor diagnosed with a qualifying condition recognized under the Utah medical cannabis program and holding a valid cannabis card from their home state.