Utah health officials see spike in medical marijuana cards
Apr 22, 2024, 12:00 PM | Updated: Apr 23, 2024, 1:29 pm
Marijuana plants grow in the veg room at Tryke Companies Utah's medical cannabis cultivation facility in Tooele on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY– Medical marijuana cards have seen a big spike in distribution in Utah.
A state health department report showed more than 83,000 people had medical marijuana cards by the end of March 2024. That’s a 19% year-over-year increase.
Medical Director Abby Galloway from “Green Team Doctors” said it’s fairly simple to get a card in the Beehive State.
“The state mandates for Utah are that a patient be 21 years of age or older and have a qualifying medical condition, of which there are 15 total,” said Galloway.
According to the report, the two most common medical reasons people get a card are persistent pain and PTSD. Additionally, those seeking a medical marijuana card don’t always need to provide their medical records.
“Medical records are not required by the state of Utah unless the only qualifying condition for the patient is PTSD,” Galloway explained.
“Patients can visit our office in Cottonwood Heights with their driver’s license or state-issued ID, and leave that day with a card assuming they meet those two requisites that forth by Utah’s Medical Cannabis Act,” said Galloway.
The legislation, also known as the compromise bill was passed in 2018.
Medical cannabis is a growing industry in Utah, generating $138 million in revenue from sales last year. There are currently 15 medical cannabis pharmacies in Utah.
