The Beehive State is now home to over 103,000 medical cannabis cardholders. As the numbers continue to grow, it is evident that new patients are coming on board just about every day. But there is a lot more to medical cannabis in Utah than merely getting a medical card. Navigating the environment successfully requires knowledge.
Education is the key to it all. The more patients learn about medical cannabis, the state’s medical card, and all the regulations put in place to safeguard both them and the industry, the easier it is to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Along with the knowledge itself is its source. Utah patients have access to different types of experts: qualified medical providers (QMPs), limited medical providers (LMPs), pharmacy medical providers (PMPs), and pharmacy agents.
It Starts With the Card
If you are just thinking about using medical cannabis but don’t know where to start, your educational journey begins with the medical card. The state issues cards after a patient submits an application and visits a qualified or limited medical provider.
QMPs are medical providers with Utah prescribing authority who have received additional education and are licensed by the state to recommend medical cannabis to a fairly large number of patients. LMPs are also Utah medical providers with prescribing authority in the state. They can only recommend medical cannabis to a maximum of fifteen patients at a time. LMPs have not received the additional education or applied for a state license.
Purchasing Cannabis Medicines
The BeehiveMed team can help you navigate applying for your medical cannabis card. Your medical provider is likely to begin your education into medical cannabis and how it will affect your condition and symptoms. Your education will continue when you visit the medical cannabis pharmacy to make your purchases.
PMPs are licensed pharmacists within the state of Utah. They are the only ones who can legally dispense medical cannabis in the state. Regulations require that pharmacies have a PMP on-site during all operating hours.
A PMP is the most qualified medical professional to offer advice on how to use medical cannabis, what delivery method is best, the correct dosage, and so forth. Why? Because pharmacists are specifically trained in pharmacology – the science of medicine and how it impacts the human body.
Advice From Pharmacy Agents
Pharmacy agents aren’t allowed to offer any medical advice. But they are the experts when it comes to actual sales. They can offer helpful advice about how different delivery methods work, what you should know about different brands, and other related topics. Do not be afraid to ask questions. If a pharmacy agent cannot help you, the on-site PMP probably can.
It’s a Journey, Not a One-Time Thing
There are so many people ready and waiting to help you navigate medical cannabis in Utah. But don’t think of your education as a one-time thing. It is actually an ongoing journey. As long as you continue using medical cannabis, there will be things to learn.
The previously mentioned professionals will help you along the way. But don’t be afraid to lean into the experiences of others. Throughout Utah, there are countless others who have taken this journey before you. Their experiences and insights could prove invaluable.
Medical cannabis has been allowed in Utah since the passage of a 2018 voter proposition. As more people have signed up to use it, the industry in our state has grown significantly. That is good. But never forget that the actual key to maximizing cannabis as a medicine is education. The more you know, the better off you will be.
