If you had to explain the Medical Cannabis Card to a friend or family member who had never heard of it before, what would you say? Explaining that the card allows patients to legally buy Medical Marijuana products would be a good start. But did you know that the state issues five different types of Medical Cannabis cards?
It’s true. The five different types of Utah Medical Marijuana Cards are aimed at a different demographic. Between all five, the state covers adult patients, minors, and out-of-state visitors.
The standard card we tend to think of most often is what the state refers to as the ‘Patient Card’. It is issued to all qualifying adults who are at least 18 years of age and have the ability to obtain their medicines on their own.
Next up is the Guardian card. It is issued to either the parents or legal guardians of eligible minors. For instance, if you have a minor child suffering from epilepsy, your child’s doctor might determine that Medical Cannabis is the best option for controlling seizures. You could be issued a Guardian Card that allows you to buy medication on behalf of your child.
The state website says that Guardian Cards are issued in conjunction with Provisional Patient Cards. The Provisional Cards go to minors under the age of eighteen who are eligible to use Medical Marijuana. In essence, both of the minor child and parent or guardian get a card.
It’s not as easy to get a Provisional Card compared to a standard Patient Card. That’s because state law mandates that Provisional Card applications be reviewed by the state’s Compassionate Use Board prior to approval.
For the record, the state isn’t purposely trying to discriminate against minors. The rules were enacted based on studies that show certain risks among minors who use Medical Marijuana. They just want to be sure that approval is in a child’s best interests.
There are adult patients who, for one reason or another, are unable to obtain their medicines independently. They still qualify for Medical Cannabis under state law, but they need another adult to make their purchases. Those other adults are given Caregiver Cards.
The patients themselves get Patient Cards as well, and they must specifically designate those caregivers they want to obtain medicines on their behalf.
Finally, the state recognizes that Medical Marijuana users from out-of-state visit Utah from time to time. In order to help such visitors avoid violating federal laws by transporting marijuana products across state lines, the state issues non-Utah Resident Cards on a temporary basis.
Out-of-state visitors with valid Medical Cannabis Cards from their own states can apply for the ‘visitor card’ in advance of their scheduled travel dates. However, the condition for which they use the drug must be on Utah’s Qualifying Condition list. Temporary visitor cards are valid for 21 days and may be applied for twice per year.
There you have it: the five types of Medical Marijuana Cards issued by Utah. If you think you or a loved one qualifies for Medical Marijuana, we would be happy to consult with you. Make an appointment at your earliest convenience to see a QMP at any one of our clinics.
