The Economic and Social Impact of Medical Marijuana in Utah

Medical Marijuana in Utah: A Catalyst for Economic Growth and Social Transformation

Utah has come a long way as far as medical marijuana goes. For the longest time, it was illegal to buy, sell, consume, grow, or possess any form of marijuana in Utah.

This changed when, on November 6th, 2018, voters approved Proposition 2, allowing qualified people to access medical marijuana in Utah. 

Residents of Utah can apply for a medical marijuana card from the Utah Department of Health to allow them to buy cannabis from an online dispensary. 

You can qualify for a medical card in Utah if you have any of the following medical conditions: 

• Debilitating seizures
• PTSD
• Cachexia
• HIV
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Cancer
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Persistent nausea that’s unresponsive to traditional treatment (providing it’s not pregnancy-related nausea or cannabis-induced vomiting syndrome)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Autism
• Chronic pain
• A terminal illness (where life expectancy is less than six months)
• Debilitating muscle spasms

If you have an illness that isn’t on this list but you believe warrants the use of medical marijuana in Utah, you can petition the Compassionate Use Board to register you as a medical marijuana patient. 

Legalizing medical cannabis has had quite an effect in Utah and other states around the United States. In this feature, we’ll look at this new legislation’s economic and social impact. 

We will also make a few projections of what we believe the future might hold for medical marijuana in Utah. 

What is the Economic Impact of Medical Marijuana in Utah?

The cannabis market was valued at 13.2 billion USD in 2022, and that figure is projected to keep going higher. 

It’s, therefore, no surprise that the legalization of medical marijuana in Utah has had such a significant impact on the state’s economy. Here’s how:

1. It Has Created Numerous New Job Opportunities

In 2022, the legal cannabis industry accounted for 428, 059 full-time jobs in the United States. And as more dispensaries and cannabis companies open up all around the country, the sector is set to create even more employment opportunities. 

The medical marijuana industry in Utah employs budtenders to guide customers through making a purchase in dispensaries. 

These members of the team are knowledgeable about cannabis and may help patients who are new to medical marijuana in Utah get the best medicine for their symptoms. 

The medical marijuana industry also employs farmers who are, quite frankly, the backbone of the entire operation. 

These farmers grow high-quality cannabis, which is then used to prepare oils, waxes, capsules, tinctures, and more.

The cannabis industry relies heavily on drivers, riders, and other delivery personnel. Delivery drivers make it possible for medical marijuana patients to order cannabis online and have it sent right to their doorstep. 

This demand has created and will continue to create many employment opportunities for people in Utah. 

2. Medical Marijuana in Utah Has Created Business and Investment Opportunities

Now that medical marijuana is legal in Utah, people can legally participate in the industry as entrepreneurs and investors. 

The Utah Department of Health, Center for Medical Cannabis is responsible for the licensing of growers and suppliers. 

There are currently eight licensed medical marijuana cultivators and ten medical marijuana dispensaries in the state. 

3. It Saves the State and the Patient Money

So much money is spent every year on marijuana cases. People convicted of possessing or selling marijuana may end up doing some jail time, and this costs the state of Utah money. 

Now that medical marijuana is legal, a significant amount of state revenue is saved. This revenue, which would otherwise have gone to court cases, can be used in many other ways. 

People who use marijuana for medical reasons have also benefited greatly from its legalization. In a state such as Utah which has stringent marijuana rules, people are forced to turn to the black market, whose quality, prices, and supply aren’t standardized. 

However, with medical cannabis being legal, patients can buy the highest quality cannabis at more affordable prices. Oh, and remember medical cannabis sales aren’t taxed in Utah, which further helps keep prices down. 

If you would like to join the medical marijuana bandwagon in Utah, you can book an appointment to speak with our highly compassionate physicians about getting a medical marijuana card in Utah. 

4. It Creates Lots of Tax Revenue

Every state that has legalized marijuana for medical and/or recreational purposes has enjoyed significant bumps in its tax revenue, and Utah isn’t an exception. 

Medical marijuana is currently one of the most lucrative cash crops in Utah, having brought in close to $120 million in 2022 alone— more than many other farmed crops in the state. 

According to a new study, the legal cannabis industry could generate around $105 billion in federal tax revenue by 2025. That’s a lot of money. And now that Utah has a legal medical marijuana industry, it lays claim to a slice of that pie. 

5. It Has Impacted the Agricultural Sector

The most common cash crops in Utah are hay, wheat, corn, cherries, barley, and safflower. 

This is how it’s always been. Now that medical marijuana is legal in Utah, farmers now have the opportunity to cultivate something different as opposed to being limited to certain crops. 

Growing cannabis and industrial hemp is an exciting and different experience from growing most other crops. 

Cannabis is a wildflower that grows bushy and dense. All it needs is sunlight, water, good nutrients, and some support, and you’ll be harvesting your buds in no time. Oh, and it only takes eight to twelve weeks for a cannabis plant to mature. 

This means one can plant various cycles in a year. That can be incredibly lucrative for farmers in Utah. 

What Is the Social Impact of Medical Marijuana in Utah?

For years, cannabis was illegal in Utah and carried hefty penalties. This has changed over the years following the legalization of medical marijuana in Utah.

Let’s look at some of the social implications of medical marijuana legalization in Utah.

1. Improvement in the Social Perception Surrounding Marijuana

Voters in Utah came out to support Proposition 2, a bill aimed at making medical marijuana legal. This implies that society’s perception of the cannabis plant is improving and continues to improve. 

The past couple of years have been a soft launch of sorts. This period has done a great job of debunking some of the myths that people believed about marijuana.

People are now more open to the idea of using medical marijuana to manage some of their health conditions. 

2. People Have Access to Alternative Medicine

Medical cannabis may help people deal with symptoms such as chronic pain, nausea, Alzheimer’s, muscle spasms, and more. There are pharmaceutical drugs that could make these symptoms go away too, but sometimes you just don’t feel like popping a pill. 

Some pharmaceutical medications may bring you relief, but they carry the risk of being addictive and dependence-forming. 

There’s also the fact that most medications are metabolized in the liver. Taking pills regularly may, therefore, affect your health. 

These are some of the reasons why most people turn to cannabis. The availability of medical marijuana in Utah has made it possible for people to access alternative medication for their complications. 

Cannabis is organic, and way better tolerated than a lot of the medication we use today. 

3. Improved Quality of Life in People With Chronic Illnesses

A chronic illness may make your life feel more challenging and overwhelming. Chronic back pain, for example, may make it difficult for one to work, exercise, and handle day-to-day tasks. 

People with terminal illnesses may find themselves feeling depressed, anxious, stressed, and moody. 

Research has shown that medical marijuana may help enhance mental health by easing the symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, and more. This may help patients with terminal illnesses enjoy a higher quality of life.

4. Reduced Opioid Intake

Morphine is the most commonly used and abused opioid; it is usually prescribed for chronic pain. It is also very addictive, as are other opioids used to manage common health conditions such as pain and anxiety. 

There’s an opioid crisis in America, and one mission we’re passionate about is combating it. We believe that the first step to address this is to stop prescribing opioids to people when better, natural alternatives exist. 

Medical marijuana is one such alternative. According to one study, the use of medical cannabis led to a significant reduction in the use of prescription opioids.

Is Medical Marijuana Legal In Utah? Laws to Know

Yes, medical marijuana is legal in Utah.

If you’re a medical marijuana patient in Utah or looking to join the program, here are some of the laws that you should know:

• You’re allowed to possess no more than one month’s worth of weed, four grams of flower, or 20 grams of concentrated THC. 
• Smoking weed and eating edible products is prohibited.
• Flowers must be packaged in opaque, tamper-free bottles.
• Patients under 18 can qualify for a medical marijuana card in Utah, but their guardian has to purchase the medicine on their behalf.
• Medical cannabis products are exempt from state tax. 

Conditions to Fulfill to Get a Utah Medical Marijuana Card

For you to get a medical marijuana card in Utah, you ought to: 

• Be a Utah resident
• Have at least one qualifying condition
• Be deemed eligible by licensed medical marijuana doctors
• Pay a $15 application fee

Green Team Doctors Will Help You Get A Medical Marijuana Card In Utah

If you have chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, or any other qualifying condition, you can apply for a medical marijuana card in Utah. 

Green Team Doctors is a coalition of qualified medical providers with over 300 years of combined experience. We are highly compassionate physicians that will help you get the medicine you need. 

All you need to do is book an appointment and speak to one of our highly compassionate, Qualified Medical Providers about your health. 

We will then be able to determine whether you qualify for a medical marijuana card in Utah, then guide you through the steps. See you soon!