We should tip our hats to state lawmakers and regulators who have worked so hard to improve our medical cannabis program over the last five years. But no program is perfect. So here is a question: Connecticut has a cannabis ombudsman; should Utah have one, too?
More regulation isn’t always a good thing. Likewise, government intervention intended to benefit citizens can sometimes get in the way. So whether Utah needs a medical cannabis ombudsman is a tricky question. But it might be one worth exploring in future legislative sessions.
What a Cannabis Ombudsman Does
Utah does not currently have a formal medical cannabis ombudsman role. Connecticut is the only state with such a role, having been the first to establish it late last year. But what exactly does a cannabis ombudsman do?
An ombudsman is an officially recognized advocate. Ombudsmen exist throughout the healthcare system. They can also be found in legal, financial, and other industries. Their primary focus is looking out for consumers and their interests.
In a medical cannabis setting, an ombudsman would:
- Address patient concerns
- Investigate complaints
- Monitor regulations
- Insure fair patient treatment
- Liaison between patients, caregivers, and regulators
The idea of being a liaison is more about patient care than anything else. It is the ombudsman’s responsibility to do whatever they can to improve patient care. This includes providing research support, recommending policy changes, and more.
An Impartial Advocate
It is important to note that a medical cannabis ombudsman should be an impartial advocate in the sense that their personal feelings about medical cannabis should have no bearing on advocacy efforts. For the ombudsman, it is not a question of whether medical cannabis should be allowed.
An ombudsman would accept that medical cannabis is legal in Utah. They would commit to ensuring that patient rights are protected.
Given the nature of medical cannabis and the fact that regulatory frameworks are still evolving, creating an ombudsman role seems like a sensible idea. In the absence of an official advocate, Utah medical cannabis patients can thank volunteer advocates for looking out for them.
Patients Have a Responsibility
It is worth noting that even with a medical cannabis ombudsman, patients still have a responsibility to themselves and state regulations. That responsibility is even more profound in states that lack an official ombudsman. Utah is included.
As a patient, you rely on your medical provider and pharmacy medical provider for sound advice. Both are more than qualified from a medical standpoint. But you have non-medical responsibilities to the law, your employer, your family, etc. It can be a lot for patients new to the medical cannabis environment.
Do you have friends who use medical cannabis? Are some of your family members carded patients? Both can be a valuable source of information to help you navigate your responsibilities. You can also run an online search for advocacy groups in Utah. There are a number of them.
We’ve Come a Long Way
Nothing in this post is intended to confuse or discourage readers. In fact, it is just the opposite. We have come a long way in the Beehive State since our medical cannabis program first launched some five years ago. Things are drastically improved compared with where they were in 2020.
Perhaps someday Utah will have a medical cannabis ombudsman. And if that is the case, patients will have yet another advocate working to protect their rights. But in the meantime, we all press on with the tools and opportunities the state program offers us. Let us keep moving forward.
