Utah

A LEGAL MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT ...

1. Is a Utah resident. Proof of residency is established by providing a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a Utah driver's license or state identification card, a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military identification card, a permanent resident card, or a tribal identification card.

2. Is 21 years of age or older, OR is between 18 and 20 years of age and has received approval from the Compassionate Use Board (CUB). Patients under 18 may participate through the minor patient/guardian card process with CUB approval.

3. Has a qualifying condition, or has received approval from the Compassionate Use Board for a condition not on the statutory list. Qualifying conditions include:

• Acute pain (such as pain following a surgical procedure)
• Alzheimer's disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Autism
• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
• Epilepsy or seizures
• HIV or AIDS
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) or muscle spasms
• Nausea that is not caused by pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
• Persistent pain lasting longer than 2 weeks
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), when the patient is also receiving treatment from a mental health provider
• A rare condition or disease as defined by the National Institutes of Health (affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States)
• A terminal illness or condition for which the patient is receiving hospice care, with a life expectancy of less than 6 months
• A condition approved on a case-by-case basis by the Compassionate Use Board (CUB) for patients who do not have a condition on this list or who are under 21 years of age

4. Has received a recommendation from a licensed Utah recommending medical provider (RMP) who has submitted a certification through the state's Electronic Verification System (EVS) or submitted a paper certification to a licensed medical cannabis pharmacy. To find a provider, visit the Center for Medical Cannabis provider finder.

5. Is registered in the Electronic Verification System (EVS) and holds a valid medical cannabis patient card. Cards are valid for up to 1 year. 

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

1. Create a UtahID account at https://dts.utah.gov/idhelp/account-creation/ if you do not already have one.
2. Log in to the Electronic Verification System (EVS) and create an EVS account.
3. Submit your medical cannabis application in the EVS. You will be asked to provide personal information and, if desired, add a caregiver or designate a delivery location.
4. Meet in person with a recommending medical provider (RMP). Your provider will conduct a medical assessment, confirm whether medical cannabis is appropriate for your condition, and submit a certification in the EVS. Find a provider near you.
5. After your provider submits your certification, you will receive an email from the EVS with instructions to pay the $8 state card application fee. Pay the fee through your EVS account.
6. Download your medical cannabis card from the EVS. You may print it or save it to your device. You must show your card and a valid photo ID each time you visit a medical cannabis pharmacy or receive a home delivery.
7. Before your first purchase, you will meet with a licensed medical cannabis pharmacist, in person or by phone/video (if offered by the pharmacy), to review your condition, symptoms, and health history and receive product and dosing guidance. Find a pharmacy or home delivery service.

PATIENT RENEWAL

Patient cards are valid for up to 1 year. Your provider may issue a card with a shorter validity period (3 or 6 months) depending on your medical needs. You can view your card's expiration date in your EVS account.

To renew:

1. Log in to your EVS account and change your status to 'Awaiting Certification.'
2. Contact your recommending medical provider to complete a renewal certification. An in-person visit is required for follow-up appointments unless your provider determines otherwise.
3. After your provider submits the renewal certification, pay the $8 renewal fee through your EVS account.
4. Download your new card from the EVS. Your new card will be available the day after your current card expires.

Renew online through the Electronic Verification System (EVS).

ENROLLING MINOR PATIENTS 

Patients under the age of 18 may participate in Utah's medical cannabis program with approval from the Compassionate Use Board (CUB). Patients aged 18 to 20 may qualify through the standard application process, but CUB review may apply depending on their condition.

Minor patients receive a provisional patient card, which must be used together with a guardian card issued to a parent or legal guardian. The guardian card allows the parent or guardian to purchase medical cannabis on behalf of the minor. Guardians may not use the patient's cannabis for their own use.

To apply, visit Apply for a minor patient/guardian card.

The initial fee for a guardian card is $67; the renewal fee is $10. Guardian cards must be renewed every six months. The CUB review process may take up to 90 days.

A caregiver

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Be a Utah resident
• Pass a criminal background check
• Be designated by a registered patient through the patient's EVS account

A registered patient may designate up to two caregivers. A caregiver may assist no more than two registered patients at a time under Utah Code Section 26B-4-214.

Caregivers register through the EVS after receiving an invitation from the patient. The caregiver application fee is $68.25 for the initial application; the first renewal is free, and subsequent renewals are $14. The caregiver card expires on the same date as the patient's card. Learn more and apply at Apply for a caregiver card.

Dispensaries (Medical Cannabis Pharmacies)

After your registration is approved, you may purchase cannabis at licensed medical cannabis pharmacies in Utah. Utah uses the term 'medical cannabis pharmacy' for its licensed retail dispensing locations. Home delivery is available through some pharmacies licensed in rural areas. After your first purchase, you may buy from any licensed Utah medical cannabis pharmacy.

What to Bring

• Your valid Utah medical cannabis card (digital or printed from your EVS account)
• A valid government-issued photo ID
• A list of your current medications (recommended for your first visit)
• Payment for your medicine. Insurance does not cover the cost of medical cannabis. Credit cards may not be accepted at all locations; check with your pharmacy in advance.

After your enrollment is approved. You can access your Medical Cannabis Registry account and pick up medical cannabis at your nearest medical cannabis dispensary. Find Medical Cannabis Dispensary Locations.

Possession Limits

Registered patients may possess a 30-day supply as defined by their provider's dosing guidelines. The maximum allowable possession is:

• Up to 113 grams of unprocessed cannabis flower
• Up to 20 grams of total active THC in all other cannabis products (such as tinctures, capsules, tablets, vape cartridges, or topicals)

Your recommending medical provider sets your specific monthly limit in the EVS. You may not exceed your authorized amount.

Home Cultivation

Registered patients may use medical cannabis in permitted private locations.

Smoking cannabis is prohibited for all individuals in Utah, including registered patients, under Utah Code Section 26B-4-203. Vaporization of cannabis products (including approved dry-herb vaporizers and oil-based vape cartridges purchased from licensed pharmacies) is permitted for registered patients in private settings.

Patients may NOT use or possess medical cannabis in:

• Any public place, indoors or outdoors, unless it is a medical emergency
• Any motor vehicle, whether as a driver or passenger
• Any school bus or the grounds of any preschool, primary, or secondary school
• Any correctional facility
• Any private residence used for licensed childcare
• Any federal land, including national parks, national forests, BLM-administered lands, military installations, and federal courthouses, where federal law applies regardless of state medical authorization

A first offense of smoking cannabis (burning/combustion) by a cardholder is an infraction subject to a fine of up to $100 under Utah law.

Utah does not have a legal adult-use cannabis market. A valid medical cannabis registration is the only legal pathway to access cannabis in the state.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued April 28th,2026,  AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law.  This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Legal Protections

Registered patients who possess and use cannabis in compliance with program requirements have an affirmative defense against criminal prosecution for cannabis possession. A valid medical cannabis card creates a rebuttable presumption that the cardholder is in lawful possession of cannabis.

Privacy Protections

Patient registry information maintained in the Electronic Verification System (EVS) is treated as protected health information under Utah Administrative Rule R383-2. Access to EVS data is restricted to authorized parties performing functions required under the Utah Medical Cannabis Act. Authorized parties may access only the minimum information necessary for a permitted function. Law enforcement may verify a patient's registration status, but does not have unrestricted access to medical information. Employers may not access the registry. The Center for Medical Cannabis does not publish a public list of registered patients.

Access to Pharmacists

Utah's licensed medical cannabis pharmacies are required to employ at least one licensed pharmacist under Utah Code Title 4, Chapter 41a. Before your first cannabis purchase, you will meet with a pharmacy medical provider (a licensed pharmacist or physician employed by the pharmacy) to review your condition, symptoms, and health history and receive personalized guidance on cannabis products and amounts that may be appropriate for you. This consultation may take place in person, by phone, or by video if the pharmacy offers that option.

Civil Protections

• Employment: State and local government employers (public employers) must treat a registered employee's lawful use of medical cannabis the same as the use of any prescribed controlled substance. Public employees with a valid medical cannabis card are protected from adverse retaliatory action for failing a drug test due to cannabis or THC, provided there is no evidence that the employee was impaired or adversely affected in their job performance. These protections do not apply where they would jeopardize federal funding, a federal security clearance, or another federal requirement. Private employers are not required to accommodate medical cannabis use under current Utah law and retain the right to enforce drug-free workplace policies.
• Housing: Utah law does not currently include an explicit statutory prohibition on housing discrimination against registered medical cannabis patients. There is no state-specific housing protection under the Utah Medical Cannabis Act equivalent to the employment protections described above. Patients should consult with a legal professional regarding any housing-related concerns related to their patient status.
• Child Custody: Courts in Utah may not treat the lawful possession or use of medical cannabis by a parent or guardian differently than the lawful use of any prescribed controlled substance when making custody or child welfare determinations.
• Organ Transplant: For purposes of medical care, including organ or tissue transplants, a registered patient's lawful use of cannabis in a medicinal dosage form is considered the equivalent of the authorized use of any other medication at a physician's discretion, and does not constitute the use of an illicit substance or otherwise disqualify an individual from needed medical care.

Tax Benefits

Medical cannabis products sold to registered patients through licensed Utah medical cannabis pharmacies are exempt from state and local sales and use taxes. Medical cannabis devices and accessories are subject to standard state and local sales and use taxes. There is no recreational cannabis excise tax in Utah, as recreational cannabis remains illegal.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Utah's medical cannabis program. A strong registry helps protect and sustain the program and supports continued access for patients with serious health needs. 

Utah does not recognize out-of-state medical cannabis patient cards for direct use at Utah pharmacies. However, Utah offers a Non-Utah Resident card program for visiting patients.

Visitors who hold a valid medical cannabis card from their home state and are diagnosed with a qualifying condition recognized under Utah law may apply for a non-resident medical cannabis card.

Non-resident cards are valid for 21 days and may be issued no more than twice per calendar year. To apply, visit Apply for a non-Utah resident card.

Visiting patients may possess and purchase cannabis only within the limits set by their dosing guidelines, only in cannabis forms permitted under Utah law, and only from licensed Utah medical cannabis pharmacies. Cannabis may not be transported across state lines.

For more information about traveling as a medical cannabis patient, check out our Travel Guide.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.