Utah is among the more than 3-dozen states that have given the green light to medical cannabis since the 1990s. Like most of its counterparts, Utah requires patients to obtain a medical cannabis card before purchasing and using cannabis medicinally. For new patients, this engenders two questions:
- What is the duration of a state-issued card?
- Is there a specific renewal process patients must follow?
The answer to both questions are easily found on the state’s medical cannabis website. I will explain the basics here. As you read, bear in mind that this information pertains only to Utah. Each of the states with legal medical cannabis regulate it in its own way. What is true in Utah may not be true in other states.
Medical Cannabis Card Duration
Questions about medical card duration are born of the fact that cards are not issued in perpetuity. In other words, a medical cannabis cart is not open-ended. It has an expiration date. In that sense, it is no different from a traditional prescription or even your driver’s license. It needs to be renewed from time to time.
Duration was pretty short when Utah first launched its medical cannabis program years ago. Way back when, it was a mere 90 days. But over the years, lawmakers gradually increased the duration. It is now one year unless the patient’s medical provider notes otherwise.
A medical provider can stipulate a shorter term if she believes its appropriate. For example, a surgeon might recommend medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids for post-operative pain relief. She would stipulate a duration of just 90 days. If the patient wanted to continue using medical cannabis thereafter, he would have to apply for renewal.
Medical Card Renewal Procedures
Although there are some who complain that renewing a medical cannabis card in Utah is more difficult than it needs to be, the experts at Salt Lake City’s BeehiveMed say it’s no more difficult than applying for an initial card. In fact, the process is exactly the same.
The patient logs on to his electronic verification system (EVS) account and completes the first portion of the renewal application. He then visits a medical provider for the mandatory evaluation. Following that evaluation, he completes the application and submits his fee.
One could argue that renewing a medical cannabis card in Utah is easier than getting a first card simply because telemedicine visits are allowed for renewals. They aren’t allowed on initial cards. In order to get that first card, a patient must visit his medical provider face-to-face.
Why It’s All Necessary
If you are new to medical cannabis, you might wonder why all of this is necessary. Why not just allow patients to use medical cannabis indiscriminately? The answer is easy to understand if you think of medical cannabis as a traditional prescription medication.
If your doctor were to write you a prescription for heart medication, that prescription would not be open-ended. It would probably come with three automatic refills. After that, you would have to go back to your doctor to get a new prescription. This is by design.
Regular medical evaluations are required by law because:
- Patient health changes
- Conditions can worsen or improve
- Symptoms can change
- Prescription medications can interact with other drugs
Mandating regular medical evaluations is mostly a safety thing. In order to use a prescription medication safely, a patient must keep his or her doctor in the loop. The exact same thing applies to medical cannabis. Therefore, states impose time limits on medical cards. They require card renewals and regular medical evaluations.