Utah’s Medical Cannabis program allows caregivers to purchase cannabis medicines on behalf of patients with the possession of a valid Caregiver Card. Have you heard of this card? If so, did you know that the state differentiates between primary and secondary patients for the purposes of obtaining and using a Caregiver Card?
There are several different Medical Cannabis Cards available in Utah. The standard Patient Card is the most commonly issued card. It is intended for adults who live in the state, are eligible to consume Medical Cannabis, and are able to obtain their medicines on their own.
The Minor/Guardian card is for adults with legal guardianship over minors who have been approved to use Medical Cannabis, while the Utah Non-Resident Card is for Medical Cannabis users visiting from out-of-state.
The purpose of the Caregiver Card is implied in the name itself. A caregiver is an adult who provides the majority of day-to-day care for a patient. In the case of someone eligible to use Medical Cannabis, one of the caregiver’s primary responsibilities might be running to the pharmacy to pick up the patient’s medicine. That is the purpose of the Caregiver Card.
With a valid card, a caregiver can purchase Medical Cannabis products on behalf of the patient. However, the patient must also have a valid Medical Cannabis Card. A patient must also designate a particular caregiver in the EVS before that caregiver can purchase Medical Cannabis on their behalf.
All of this brings us to the topic of primary and secondary patients. A distinction is made in the Utah regulations because the law allows caregivers to provide care for more than one patient. The first patient for whom a caregiver provides care is the primary patient. Subsequent patients added thereafter are considered secondary patients.
Note that fees differ based on patient status. For example, the initial fee for a Caregiver Card with a primary patient is $68.25. Caregivers pay $15 to add secondary patients. The first renewal for a Caregiver Card, regardless of the number of patients attached, is free. Subsequent renewals are $14.
The process for obtaining a Caregiver Card is pretty straightforward. The first step is for the patient to enter the caregiver’s information in their own EVS profile. In essence, the patient is designating that person to be their caregiver. After that, the rest is up to the caregiver.
The caregiver:
Applications are reviewed within 15 days of submission. Assuming everything is in order, the caregiver will receive a new card electronically. The card can be printed on paper or carried on an electronic device. One way or the other, the caregiver must present their card whenever visiting a Medical Cannabis pharmacy.
One more thing we feel you should know is that the Medical Cannabis obtained by way of a Caregiver Card is only intended for the patient being cared for. If the caregiver wishes to use Medical Cannabis as well, they must obtain a separate Patient Card.
Utah’s Caregiver Card affords caregivers the opportunity to purchase Medical Cannabis on behalf of those they care for. Understanding that caregivers may work with more than one patient, regulations allow for both primary and secondary patients. Now that you know the difference, perhaps you are interested in obtaining a Caregiver Card. Learn more with Utah Marijuana.
