Utah’s growing cannabis industry is already making a difference and elevating the quality of life for the residents and visitors to our state. Industrial hemp and CBD benefit our state’s economy, provide new opportunities for our farmers, create good-paying jobs, generate tax revenue to support state and local governments, and inspire the creation of innovative new products for consumers and a variety of industries.
The economic benefits and access to potential markets that the cultivation of industrial hemp provides to Utah farmers is significant, facilitated in large part by the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill by the U.S. Congress and by legislation enacted at the state level. In addition to the numerous potential health and wellness benefits that products containing CBD and hemp oil provide (in the form of tinctures, nutritional supplements, beauty products, and even CBD products for your pets), industrial hemp is also the source of numerous consumer products, including paper, clothing, rope, a variety of manufactured goods, and environmentally-friendly residential and commercial construction materials.
Legal medicinal cannabis has the potential to help alleviate the suffering of patients with certain qualifying medical conditions and chronic illnesses. Patients and their designated caregivers now may purchase rigorously tested, safe, and legal medical cannabis from licensed medical cannabis pharmacies located throughout the state (and soon via courier home delivery) upon the advice and recommendation of their Qualified Medical Provider.
On November 3, 2018, a majority of Utah voters approved the Proposition 2 citizen initiative, legalizing the medical use of marijuana (medical cannabis) for individuals with certain qualifying medical illnesses and conditions.
Prior to the November 2018 election, negotiations between Utah legislators and a range of community stakeholders, civic leaders, medical professionals, patient advocacy groups, and Proposition 2 supporters – including the individuals and cannabis industry representatives who would later help organize the Utah Cannabis Association – resulted in an agreement concerning post-election legislative changes to address community concerns and improve the proposed statutory language of Proposition 2. These legislative amendments were incorporated into the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, which was adopted and signed into law on December 3, 2018 in connection with a special session of the Utah State Legislature.
“With the passage of the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, Utah now has the best-designed medical cannabis program in the country," said Governor Gary Herbert at the time. "Working with trained medical professionals, qualified patients in Utah will be able to receive quality-controlled cannabis products from a licensed pharmacist in medical dosage form.”
Patients suffering from certain qualifying medical conditions in Utah are now able to obtain a Medical Cannabis Card upon the recommendation of a qualified medical provider to purchase legal, safe, rigorously tested and highly regulated medical cannabis from a limited number of licensed medical cannabis pharmacies located throughout the state.
Additional information regarding the Utah Medical Cannabis Program, administered by the Utah Department of Health, including a list of qualifying medical conditions eligible for treatment using medical cannabis, can be found here.
Additional information regarding the Utah Industrial Hemp Program, administered by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, can be found here.
Under the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, a patient with a qualifying medical condition who may benefit from treatment with medical cannabis must first meet in-person with a Qualified Medical Provider.
Learn MoreAfter a patient has obtained a medical cannabis recommendation from their QMP, they may purchase safe and tested legal medical cannabis products from a licensed medical cannabis pharmacy.
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Membership and Associate Membership in the Utah Cannabis Association has its benefits and privileges. To join the Utah Cannabis Association, please select from the following membership categories.
Applications for membership and associate membership are subject to approval by the Board of Directors of the Utah Cannabis Association.
For questions regarding the state trade association or the cannabis industry in Utah, or to inquire regarding membership, associate membership, or partnership and marketing opportunities with the Utah Cannabis Association, please contact us.