The world is so different than it was in December 2019. Back then, Corona was a beer, masks were for Halloween, and working from home was only something you did when you were sick but didn’t want to call in. Fast forward to September 2021 — each of these things is now considered our new normal. The pandemic is far from over and we’ve all adjusted to stay sane, safe, and healthy. That’s why UTTHC is encouraging you to dive headfirst into self care this month. You’ve been through a lot, you deserve it, and I’ve got just the thing.
Something I’m trying to stay healthy is to limit my alcohol intake. I’m not a heavy drinker by any means, but I do drink socially, and I *hate* to miss a party. But whenever I do drink, the next morning I feel bloated, hungover, and insanely anxious. That’s only gotten worse as I get older, to the point where I will often choose not to drink at all. However, if you’ve ever been to a party and said, “no thanks, I’m not drinking,” you know how that can go. It’s like you’ve said, “no thanks, I’m actually three raccoons in an overcoat.” People don’t know what to do or how to move on from there. I’ve found that the easiest way to combat this is to bring your own drinks, but even that can still feel like walking around with a red A embroidered on your chest, Scarlet-Letter-style.
To help support my self care efforts, I have become a big fan of dry cocktails. Enter WB’s Eatery. Owned by 360 Restaurant Group, WB’s Eatery is more than a restaurant, it’s a place to live the cannabis lifestyle. You’ll not only find yummy food and drinks there but loads of fun literature and novelty items for purchase, as well. Trust me, if you’re interested in cannabis at all, you’ll love it. I could spend an entire paycheck there easily. The food is amazing, the drinks are delicious, and the vibes are impeccable. WB’s isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a space for cannabis lovers and enthusiasts to mix, mingle, and speak openly without fear of judgment. In their own words: “WB’s Eatery is your spot to kick back with friends, shop the market, and live the lifestyle.” Each month, they hold a social for patients, industry workers, and general lovers of cannabis to get together, hash out, and hang out. WB’s owners, Vivi and Amy Wanderley-Britt, pride themselves and their restaurants on being “exclusive in their inclusivity.” Read more about Vivi, Amy, and their commitment to community here.
Let’s back up. Why am I mentioning WB’s in an article about dry cocktails? Great question, reader! They’ve worked hard to bring us the dry cocktails of our dreams — something to drink when we’re not drinking. These zero-proof spirits have all the flavor of your favorites without the impairment or hangover the next day. You can purchase a few bottles at select 360 Restaurant Group locations on their own or as a gift set with other items. One gift set, the Deluxe Bud Box, includes a bottle of zero-proof, WB’s own CBD oil (to keep your cocktail dry, but slightly damp if you catch my drift), a canna-themed candle, herb grinder, trinket tray … for your trinkets, guitar pick, sticker, and a recipe card to make one of WB’s signature cocktails from home. You’re not just buying a drink, you’re buying an experience, all for about $100. And what an experience it is.
I was lucky enough to snag a Deluxe Bud Box at last month’s social and couldn’t wait to try it out. With my box (I opted for whiskey, but they also sell gin and 
tequila), I received a recipe card to make an Acapulco Smoke, which includes whiskey, pomegranate juice, bitters, sugar, and an orange peel. I also included some of WB’s CBD oil for maximum relaxation. Not only did my drink taste great, but it also made me feel great, too! To top off an already delightful night, I put the grinder, trinket tray, and candle (Purple Haze scented!) to good use by loading my Pax3 and hopping in the tub. You know, in the name of self care.
After making a dry cocktail on my own and seeing the light, I brought my bottle to a dinner party at a friend’s house over the weekend. I’ll tell you right now — I’ve never had a more positive experience turning down alcohol at a party. Instead of “no thanks, I’m not drinking,” I got to say “I’d love a drink! I’ll go make myself one!” While my friends know, love, and support me in not drinking, it was still great to feel a part of the ritual and not miss out on the experience of having yummy craft cocktails with them. I made drinks for a few friends (one sober and one pregnant) as well, and they were a huge hit. Plus, being that I wasn’t drinking alcohol, I was able to use cannabis throughout the night without getting too sick or intoxicated, as can often happen when mixing the two. I even felt great enough the next morning to go on an early morning hike with my fiancé. There literally is no downside to a dry cocktail in my book.
At UTTHC, we care about you. This month, I encourage you to put yourself first and remember that socializing is self care. To help you kickstart treating yourself, WB’s Eatery has graciously agreed to give away one Deluxe Bud Box to a lucky winner this month. Keep an eye on our social media pages for details on how to enter. And if you don’t win, don’t worry. You can snag a box of your own at WB’s location in Ogden, at their Holladay Pig Kitchen location (formerly
known as Pig in a Jelly Jar), from their online store, or very soon, delivered by DoorDash. Bonus: come hang out with the UTTHC team and more in the Utah cannabis space at this month’s social on Wednesday, September 29th to get your Deluxe Bar Box for just $79! The CBD oil alone sells for $75 — you won’t want to miss out on this smokin’ deal. Snag tickets for the social here for 5 yummy bites, 3 cocktails (dry or full proof), a comedy show, and loads of friendly conversation with patients, industry professionals, and cannabis enthusiasts. While you’re there, make sure to browse their online store for more fun experience boxes, CBD oil, apparel, and more.
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You know what also goes great in a dry cocktail? Cannabis. Still need your Medical Cannabis Card? UTTHC can help! Take a moment to fill out this quick, confidential prescreen form to see if you qualify. You can also reserve an appointment online or give us a call to chat more about the program. We’ve got locations in Millcreek, West SLC, Bountiful, Provo, and Ogden (just around the corner from WB’s!) and we can’t wait to see you. Don’t forget to check out our FAQs, patient guides, and YouTube channel for even more cannabis tips & tricks.
Here at Utah Marijuana, we are very much in favor of supporting the Medical Cannabis industry in whatever way we can. We help patients obtain their Medical Cannabis cards in accordance with state law. We maintain a list of pharmacies and Qualified Medical Providers (QMPs). We even do a weekly podcast. Did you know that you can support the industry as well – above and beyond your medical needs?
No doubt it’s pretty cool that you can go into any Medical Cannabis pharmacy in the state and get the medicine you need. Medical Marijuana is readily accessible under the guidance of a QMP. But there is more to the industry than that.
Here’s just one example: Utah Marijuana’s Tim Pickett recently joined co-host Chris Holifield on a Utah in the Weeds podcast featuring a local Salt Lake City business owner whose retail location focuses mainly on hemp products. Her business is just as much a part of the industry as ours.
It’s a safe bet patients visit her store looking for health-related CBD products. They have a full menu. Are gummies your thing? They have them. They also have tinctures and vape liquids. Just about anything you’d expect from a CBD outlet is there. But guess what? They do not stop at health products.
They sell other hemp stuff, too. For example, did you know you can buy clothing made from hemp-derived fabric? It’s pretty awesome. Hemp-derived fabrics are eco-friendly and sustainable. And let’s face it, it’s not every day you get to walk around town while wearing clothes made from hemp.
Do not fall into the trap of thinking that the entire universe of Medical Marijuana revolves around putting a little flower in your vaporizer and dry heating it. Hemp adds an entirely separate dynamic. And because the federal government legalized industrial hemp a couple of years ago, that part of the industry is actually a whole new world unto itself.
Way back when Medical Marijuana was in its infancy, federal and state laws didn’t draw a significant distinction between CBD and THC. Hemp and marijuana, both being cannabis plants, were equally unwelcome. Thankfully, education won out.
Regardless, there were not a whole lot of hemp producers back then. CBD was pretty expensive, too. But when Washington gave industrial hemp the green light, everything changed. Now CBD and hemp products are available just about everywhere.
Maybe you have your Medical Cannabis card but you’re not really sure what medicines are best for you. Work with your QMP and Pharmacy Medical Provider (PMP) to figure it out. That’s why they are there. In the meantime, also know you can support the industry above and beyond your medical needs.
Local businesses selling CBD stuff need and deserve your patronage. They go out of their way to develop high-quality products and merchandise for the cannabis community. Show them you support their efforts by giving them your business. Isn’t it better to buy locally than to shop with some strange, unknown entity online?
Medical Cannabis in Utah is still in its infancy. We are glad the state legislature finally listened to the people and put together a workable program for our state. The program still has a long way to go, but we have already come a long way since Medical Cannabis began to be available in Utah.
It is up to us to move things forward and support the industry in every possible way. As a Medical Cannabis patient, we hope you will join us in doing so.
A standard prescription obtained from your doctor includes instructions on dosage and delivery. Those instructions are printed on the bottle. Doctors may consult with pharmacists about modifying their original instructions as needed. Do things work the same way with Medical Cannabis in Utah? Yes and no.
First of all, the state uses specific terms to refer to medical providers and pharmacists in the Medical Cannabis arena. Medical providers (doctors, physician assistants, etc.) are known as Qualified Medical Providers (QMPs); pharmacists are known as Pharmacy Medical Providers (PMPs).
The next thing to know is that Medical Cannabis recommendations are not the same thing as traditional prescriptions. Your QMP is not required by law to write out a detailed prescription the same way they would if prescribing antibiotics.
State law allows QMPs to submit directions for dosage and delivery guidelines at the time a patient is seeking to get a first Medical Cannabis card or renew an existing card. When a QMP chooses to do so, those directions are entered into the state’s electronic verification system (EVS).
Entering information into the EVS is strictly for record-keeping purposes. QMPs, PMPs, and patients are not bound to those directions in the same way they would be for another type of prescription.
What happens if your QMP doesn’t submit directions for dosage and delivery? You work with your PMP on that. Note that state law requires patients to consult with a PMP at least on their first visit. In essence, you can work with your PMP to determine delivery method, dosage, the best products for your condition, etc. In fact, the state encourages you to do so. Your local PMP’s job is to help patients like you maximize the benefits of using cannabis medically.
From our point of view, it is best when the QMP and PMP work together. Your QMP best understands your medical history, and your current condition and prognosis. Your PMP adds to the QMP’s consultation by helping you find the best Medical Cannabis strains and delivery methods for your needs.
Cannabis interacts with the human body’s own endocannabinoid system, or ECS, which helps to regulate a variety of other systems within the body. Unfortunately, at many medical schools, future medical providers are given little to no education on the ECS.
Pharmacists, on the other hand, are well-versed in the ECS and how drugs like cannabis can play a role in a patient’s treatment plan.
Medical Marijuana is different from other prescription medications on multiple levels. It is different in the sense that QMPs are not required to write out detailed dosing recommendations. They can if they want to, but they can also allow PMPs to handle it.
Some medical providers aren’t comfortable writing Medical Cannabis dosing recommendations due to a lack of knowledge, so we think it’s great that they’re allowed to pass that responsibility to PMPs.
Now that QMPs can leave delivery and dosage instructions to PMPs, we hope more medical providers will seek certification to become QMPs and help more Utah patients Feel Better.
You are a Utah Medical Cannabis Card holder planning a visit from out-of-state family members. It is going to be a great time. However, you are not quite sure if those family members can use your medicine while they are in town. And if not, can they buy their own?
There are a number of different issues in play here. We will try to break it down for you in simple terms. The place to start is understanding that it is illegal to carry Medical Cannabis products containing THC across state lines. So no, your guests cannot bring their own medicines with them.
In terms of family members using medicine that you bought with your card, that’s not allowed either. Your card is your card; it extends Medical Cannabis eligibility only to you. You can’t let anyone else use your medicine. That includes immediate family members living in your house. They have to get their own cards to stay legal.
So, do you have any other options? Yes. Thankfully, Utah lawmakers have made it possible for out-of-state visitors to obtain temporary Medical Cannabis Cards good for 21 days. Hopefully, that’s enough to cover your family members’ upcoming visit.
Again, your visiting family members can apply for their own Medical Cannabis Cards prior to arrival. Each card is good for 21 days. In addition, the state allows two non-resident cards per year. Maybe your family is visiting in August. They have plans to come back around Christmas time. No worries, they can get cards covering both visits.
They can also get two non-resident cards back-to-back. For example, let’s say they are coming for the entire month of August. They could apply for two cards, via separate applications, to give them access to Medical Cannabis for the entire month.
Getting a temporary non-resident card is not a big deal. Your guests just have to go to the state’s website, create an account, and submit an online application. The state will review the application and, if approved, send the card electronically. Just know that it can take 10 to 14 days. Your guests need to apply well ahead of their visits so that they get their cards in time.
Things are never as easy as they seem when you are dealing with government, right? Well, Medical Cannabis for visiting out-of-state guests is no different. There is one caveat to getting a non-resident card: a person needs to have a valid Medical Cannabis Card from their state of residence.
Let’s say they are visiting from Oklahoma. Your dad will need a valid Oklahoma Medical Cannabis Card in order to apply for a non-resident card in Utah. He’ll also have to upload a digital copy of that card when he submits the Utah application.
It is a hassle, but it’s better than nothing. Utah is good about offering limited reciprocity in this regard. Some states don’t offer reciprocity in any form. If you do not live there, you are flat out of luck. At least visitors to Utah can get temporary non-resident cards.
There is one last thing to know here. Your out-of-town guests must also be diagnosed with a qualifying condition already on the Utah list. Possessing a valid card from their state of residence will not help them if Utah doesn’t recognize their qualifying conditions.
So now you know. Your out-of-town family members can legally use Medical Cannabis in Utah with a temporary non-resident card.
Tim Pickett speaks on Medical Cannabis at a North Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on August 18, 2021.
North Carolina lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 711, also known as the Compassionate Care Act, which would legalize Medical Cannabis in that state.
They invited Utah Therapeutic Health Center’s Tim Pickett to a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in August. At the meeting, Tim spoke to senators about the importance of Medical Cannabis in our community.
“I’m here today to report that both the medical data and my experience in cannabis medicine is that marijuana is safe. Patients can use it to feel better, sleep better, get by better. They can do this without getting high, and they can do this without having to smoke it,” Pickett told NC senators in a three-minute speech on August 18, 2021.
Nine guest speakers, including Tim, spoke to senators about their reasons for or against a Medical Cannabis program in North Carolina. Unfortunately, the three-minute time limit made it impossible for Tim to deliver the full breadth of his speech. However, you can read the full speech below.
My name is Tim Pickett. I’m a practicing physician assistant in Utah and founder of cannabis-specialty clinic, Utah Therapeutic Health Center, and the education center, utahmarijuana.org. I also continue to work part time in the Emergency Department of my local hospital. Medical Cannabis is not only my profession, It’s changed the lives of two of my immediate family members as well as my best friend — not to mention countless other friends and acquaintances.
In 2019, 70,630 people died of drug overdose. 70% of those deaths, 49,860 people, were opioid-related. 9,711 of those deaths involved benzodiazepines.
In 2019, not one person died of cannabis overdose in the United States.
Research on the effect of cannabis accessibility on opioid deaths provides evidence that states with access to Medical Cannabis experience reduced opioid deaths – by up to 25%. In fact, 73% of patients seen in my clinics use fewer other medications, including alcohol. Ironically, cannabis has been called a gateway drug for years. We now know that taking opioids, benzos, and sleeping pills is more likely than marijuana to lead to dependency, addiction, and the use of street drugs like heroine. Medical Marijuana is not a gateway drug, it is an exit drug.
Day in and day out, people come to our clinics looking for hope. They walk through the door, searching (sometimes for years beforehand) for something to help their condition. My youngest patient is 18 months old, managing a seizure disorder with his neurologist. My oldest patient is 98 years old, on hospice care and finding relief in their final days. I have a patient who eliminated the need for 15 prescription drugs. I have an IT professional employed with a University who is able to function and get back to work with severe PTSD from serving overseas. We have moms fighting breast cancer who are able to eat and enjoy their children or grandchildren during chemotherapy because of this medicine. These are not individuals living on the outskirts of society. These are the individuals who make up your communities.
Being born and raised in Utah, I understand and can speak to the barriers and stigma of cannabis use in a conservative culture, and I can understand why some involved in such a culture may still have doubts.
Here’s my experience: In Utah, most of the population identify as of the Mormon faith. Mormons are not permitted to drink or smoke. However, they have been allowed to participate in the program “if deemed medically necessary by a provider.” In doing this, leaders of this conservative religion have chosen to see cannabis as what it is: medicine, encouraging an acceptance that can change the stigma.
We all want our loved ones and our patients to feel better, safely. I am here today to report that both the medical data and my experience treating thousands of patients is that Medical Marijuana is safe, patients can use it to feel better, sleep better, eat better, and get by better. They can do this without getting high and they can do this without having to smoke it.
By giving the residents of North Carolina safe access to Medical Cannabis, you are allowing medical providers, like myself, to start treating medical cannabis as the legitimate medicine it is and incorporating it into our toolbox of therapies. YOU have the unique opportunity today to help the people of NC legitimize cannabis as medicine in this great state. I urge you to seize that opportunity.
Utah regulations are pretty simple in terms of the qualifying conditions for Medical Cannabis. Chronic pain is a big one. PTSD and cancer-related pain are pretty common among patients as well. Regardless of the particular condition being treated, the one thing patients have in common is that Medical Cannabis helps them take their lives back.
We think that’s probably the biggest benefit of cannabis as a medicine. Look, we take medicines because we have health conditions that prevent us from living normally, whatever that means. A lot of the medications we take are only intended to help us feel better. So why would Medical Cannabis be any different?
Thousands of patients have come to us for help in getting their Medical Marijuana cards. They want the cards because they want to take their lives back from whatever illness or condition is keeping them from their “normal.” The same opportunity is available to you, if you have a qualifying condition.
In episode 65 of the Utah in the Weeds podcast, our very own Tim Pickett joined co-host Chris Holifield to talk with a Utah Medical Cannabis patient currently in recovery from cancer. This wonderful woman has been using cannabis not only to find relief from cancer pain, but to also get on with her life.
You might find this particular episode of Utah in the Weeds helpful if you are still on the fence about Medical Cannabis. In a nutshell, the podcast discussion centers around an average Utah patient whose life has been forever altered by one of the most feared diseases in the world.
Interestingly, the patient remarked about how she had tried other medications for PTSD in the past. She didn’t like them because they prevented her from working. These days, Medical Cannabis helps her with cancer pain and PTSD simultaneously. She and her significant other are preparing to take a year-long road trip to get away from all things cancer and sell her art. The trip is only possible because Medical Cannabis has allowed her to take her life back.
People think it’s cool that Utah has greenlighted Medical Marijuana. We don’t disagree. But really, it’s not about marijuana or cannabis itself. It’s about you being in control of both your healthcare and your life. Having access to Medical Marijuana gives you better control of how you feel at any given time.
You can work with your Qualified Medical Provider (QMP) and Pharmacy Medical Provider (PMP) to figure out what works best for you. Maybe you are going to vape during the day and use gummies at night. Perhaps you’ll figure out that layering really doesn’t work for you. That’s OK, because everyone has a unique experience with cannabis.
The thing that makes Medical Cannabis different is that you are free to work with medical professionals to come up with the best possible solution. You’re not just handed a prescription with directions for how to take it. With Medical Cannabis, you are not popping pills and hoping for the best.
If you’re ready to take your life back from whatever condition you suffer with, the first step is meeting with a QMP. That’s what we do here at Utahmarijuana.org. Our QMPs meet with patients to talk about their qualifying conditions and how Medical Marijuana might help. We also help patients get their cards.
Come on in and visit us at any one of our Utah locations. Let us have a discussion about how Medical Cannabis could help you. A chat with one of our QMPs is the first step on the journey to taking your life back.
Your time has come. Finally, no more traveling to get your medicine. No more going without because you ran out and the nearest pharmacy is hours away. No more trekking across the state to find a decent QMP. For most Utah Medical Cannabis Patients, the program launched in March 2020. But, let’s be honest: the fun is just getting started in Southern Utah. Are you ready? Let’s go over some of the options that just opened up for you.
Our friends at WholesomeCo Cannabis have worked hard on a delivery program to better serve Utah Medical Cannabis patients. Now, I know what you’re
thinking. “WholesomeCo is in Bountiful! This isn’t going to help me!” Well, lower those skeptical eyebrows because yes: they WILL deliver to you, even from Bountiful. (Probably. But if they don’t, they will soon.) WholesomeCo delivers to 99% of patients quickly, safely, and discreetly. Find out when and if they’ll deliver to your door here.
I haven’t even told you the best part yet. You’re going to flip, fellow Utah Medical Cannabis patient. Delivery is FREE. Totally free. For everyone. Every time. Learn more about the process here and get to shopping!
Southern Utah Medical Cannabis patients have been waiting patiently for their own dispensary for a while now. Why should us Northerners have all the fun? Well, if you haven’t been paying attention, let me be the first to tell you: you’ve got TWO friendly, neighborhood pharmacies now! (And just in time, too. As of June 30, 2021, all out-of-state Medical Cannabis products are prohibited.)
For our friends near St. George, you’ll want to check out Bloc. If the name sounds familiar, it probably is: Bloc has a location in South Jordan, too. Bloc’s extensive menu and friendly budtenders make this a must-go for all in the area. Learn more about Bloc Pharmacy, read reviews, get directions, and more here.
If you’re a bit more North and St. George still feels too far for you, why not check out Cedar City’s newest addition, Bloom Medicinals? You can find this dispensary in the heart of town, just around the corner from Southern Utah University (go T-Birds!). They’re stocked to the gills with high-quality cannabis 
products so you’ll have no trouble finding something right for you. Take a deep breath, fellow Utah Medical Cannabis patient. It’s finally your time to shine.
Did I mention that Utah Therapeutic Health Center is making its debut in Cedar City, too? I didn’t? Well: Utah Therapeutic Health Center is making its debut in Cedar City, too! We’re excited to bring education and compassionate care to those in the surrounding area. It won’t be hard to find us — we’re posting up right next to Bloom Medicinals to be your one-stop cannabis shop! Come on down, say hi, meet one of our friendly and knowledgable QMPs (each trained by Tim Pickett, PA-C, Utah’s Best QMP of 2021), and snag your medicine all in one quick go (if you’re a renewal patient or once temporary cards are introduced to the EVS for new patients, that is). Schedule an appointment or pop in to chat sometime. We can’t wait to help you feel better.
UtahMarijuana.org is all about helping patients get their Medical Cannabis cards. We staff our clinics with Qualified Medical Providers who are always at the ready to sit down and talk about Medical Cannabis with patients. From time to time, we also enjoy talking with pharmacy owners and pharmacy medical providers (PMPs). They have a different perspective altogether.
As a patient, you look at Medical Cannabis through the lens of how it helps you feel better. The PMP looks at it from the perspective of dispensing medication. That is what pharmacists do. And yet, they also have to do what they do in keeping with state regulations.
Then there is the pharmacy owner’s perspective. To owners, Medical Cannabis is more than a medicine. It is also a business. They have to run their businesses in such a way as to keep customers happy while maintaining compliance with the law. Along the way, they have to generate enough revenue to stay in business.
Our team members have the opportunity to interact with all sorts of people in the Medical Marijuana space. Of course, we talk with patients. We help them get their Medical Marijuana cards and recommend different products and delivery methods. But it doesn’t stop there. We also get to hang with:
There really are a ton of people that make Utah’s Medical Cannabis program work. They all have a different perspective on the same drug, which is really the most fascinating aspect. There are so many people who look at Medical Cannabis from perspectives that other people cannot truly appreciate.
Getting back to the pharmacy, both business owners and PMPs have a lot of responsibility. They have to maintain that delicate balance between keeping the state happy and doing everything they can to help patients. It can be a tough row to hoe at times.
Imagine being a PMP and knowing that your shelves might not be fully stocked by the end of the week. You know you will have patients coming in for a particular product that you probably won’t have on hand. Now what do you do? Hopefully, you will have something else you can recommend.
Do not forget the state’s electronic verification system (EVS). Both QMPs and PMPs have to deal with it. But the pharmacy’s interaction with the EVS is far more than ours. They have to work with it every time they fill a patient order. That could be dozens of times every day – if not hundreds.
Understand that the EVS is continually evolving. QMPs and PMPs are constantly having to learn new things about it. We are doing our best to keep up. From the pharmacy’s perspective, the EVS is a helpful tool when all goes as it should. But it has its days.
Overall, the Medical Cannabis pharmacies in our state do good work. We appreciate their willingness to take on an industry that can be tough to navigate. We also appreciate that they are willing to endure some of the less appealing aspects of the business while Utah’s Medical Cannabis program matures.
We currently have fourteen licensed pharmacies in the state. They are your only legal outlet for Medical Cannabis in Utah. Remember that it is no longer legal to buy your medicine out-of-state and bring it across state lines. If you have a Medical Cannabis card, you must buy your products from a licensed Utah pharmacy.
Right now is a fantastic time to be involved in Utah’s Medical Marijuana industry. The state’s Medical Cannabis program, while still new, is growing rapidly. The ever-changing landscape of new products, delivery methods and treatment options can feel overwhelming, even for the Qualified Medical Providers (QMPs) and Pharmacy Medical Providers (PMPs) who serve Medical Cannabis patients in Utah.
If you are new to Medical Marijuana as a patient, you have a lot to learn. But guess what? So do the people reaching out to help you. Your QMPs and PMPs are learning right alongside you. So are growers and processors. Just about everyone with their hands in Medical Marijuana is learning about this fantastic plant and what it can do for people who need it.
On a recent episode of the Utah in the Weeds podcast, co-hosts Chris Holifield and Tim Pickett talked about Pickett’s experience as a QMP. Pickett founded the Utah Therapeutic Health Center, which helps patients obtain their Medical Marijuana Cards and gives them advice on using cannabis as a medicine.
Pickett wasn’t afraid to mention in that podcast how he was learning from patients. How cool is that? A lot of times, medical providers act as though they have nothing to learn from their patients. They have the mindset that they are the experts, so patients should just be quiet and listen. Tim Pickett doesn’t work that way. His MO is to develop high-quality, mutually beneficial relationships with UTTHC’s patients.
Pickett’s interactions with patients help him better understand how different people respond to different Medical Cannabis products. He learns by asking about patient dosages, delivery methods, and frequency. He has learned about everything from layering to stacking to making edibles at home.
QMPs like Tim Pickett take every opportunity they can to learn more about Medical Marijuana. Pickett doesn’t learn just from his patients; he also learns from his own research and interactions with colleagues. He told Holifield about how he interacts with PMPs to learn from them too.
Technically speaking, a PMP is one of the most qualified to discuss the finer details of how Medical Marijuana can help a particular patient. After all, that’s part of a pharmacist’s formal training. But there is still a lot about THC and CBD pharmacists don’t understand. It’s refreshing to know that Utah’s QMPs and PMPs are teaching each other about the uses of Medical Cannabis.
Just listening to what Pickett had to say explains why Medical Marijuana is such a unique industry within the greater medical field. There aren’t many other fields in which so much learning is going on. In fact, a lot of American medicine has grown stale. But in the Medical Marijuana arena, everything is new and fresh.
The most important thing is that PMPs and QMPs are not keeping what they learn to themselves. They are sharing it with patients as a means of helping them get the most from the Medical Cannabis experience. They are also sharing their knowledge with lawmakers. By teaching lawmakers what they know, they are helping to shape the future of Utah’s Medical Marijuana regulations.
It is a great time to be involved in the nascent Medical Marijuana industry. Utah is one of the few states doing it right. There is a lot to learn, but every bit of acquired knowledge will only help to make Utah’s Medical Cannabis program better for patients and medical providers alike.
