One of the most commonly searched questions in the cannabis field is this: how do I become a medical cannabis patient? The biggest names in search, including Google and Perplexity, field this question all the time. Unfortunately, finding the answer is not as simple as asking the question.
It is not that the answer is hidden. Rather, it’s that it differs from one state to the next. So I can only give you a general outline here. My description is based on Utah simply because I know their process is pretty straightforward. In fact, the good folks at Salt Lake City’s Beehive Farmacy medical cannabis dispensary say it might be the easiest program for new patients to understand.
1. It Must Be Allowed in Your State
For starters, medical cannabis must be allowed in your state. At the start of 2025, thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia allowed eligible patients to use medical cannabis. If you live in one of the remaining eleven states, you may have limited access or no access at all. You need to know what your state allows before proceeding any further.
2. You Must Meet Program Qualifications
Assuming medical cannabis is allowed in your state, you must also meet program qualifications. Utah’s qualifications are pretty simple. You must be an adult (at least 21 years of age), a state resident, and diagnosed with a condition on the state’s qualifying conditions list. Here is just a short selection of some of the conditions on that list:
- Chronic pain
- Acute pain (under certain conditions)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Chronic nausea (under certain conditions)
State law explicitly prohibits minors from using medical cannabis under most circumstances. However, minors and their caregivers can petition the Compassionate Use Board for an exception. With board approval, caregivers can obtain medical cannabis for minors and administer it to them.
3. You Must Visit With a Medical Provider
States with medical cannabis programs require qualified patients to obtain a medical cannabis card. In order to do so, you must visit with a medical provider first. In Utah, medical providers can be doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and podiatrists with prescribing authority.
The medical providers task is two-fold:
- To confirm the diagnosis of a qualifying condition; and
- To confirm that medical cannabis is an appropriate treatment.
The medical provider must affirm his diagnosis and recommendation on the patient’s application. In Utah, this is accomplished by entering the appropriate information in the state’s electronic verification system (EVS).
4. You Must File Your Application
Successfully obtaining a doctor’s recommendation gives you the go ahead to file your application. States do this in different ways, but most offer an electronic filing system. Utah allows patients to start the application process before visiting with a medical provider. After the visit, the patient completes the application and submits it along with a fee.
The completed application goes to the state for approval. Once approved, the state sends a medical cannabis card to the patient. Utah sends its cards electronically. They can be printed on paper or stored on a patient’s mobile device.
A Quick Word About Renewal
A quick word about card renewal is necessary before I close. States require renewal on a regular basis to ensure that patients still qualify for medical cannabis. Utah’s renewal period is one year. Patients must consult with their medical providers once again, at least in Utah.
Becoming a medical cannabis patient is not complicated. But it does require some time and effort. If you’re interested in using medical cannabis, research the process in your state.
