2026 medical cannabis law updates

This summary explains how the bills passed in the 2026 legislative session affect medical cannabis patients, medical cannabis pharmacies, and the program. Visit le.utah.gov to see complete copies of the bills (HB 389 and SB 121). The new laws start on May 6, 2026 unless another date is listed. This summary is for general information purposes only and is not legal advice.

Medical cannabis program changes

  • Duties currently performed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will transition to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) by January 1, 2027. Duties may be moved to UDAF as early as July 1, 2026, but the change will not affect patient access to medical cannabis. Providers, patients, and industry will be informed once the transition is complete. Once duties transition to UDAF, UDAF will oversee all aspects of the medical cannabis program.

Medical cannabis patient changes

Buying medical cannabis

  • UDAF may increase the state fee paid during each medical cannabis purchase.
  • Patients may purchase low-THC medical cannabis products at a medical cannabis pharmacy. This does not include products from hemp producers, which are separately regulated. 
  • A medical cannabis patient voucher program will be established. Funds will be provided annually to a nonprofit that will provide eligible patients with monthly $150 vouchers for purchasing medical cannabis at medical cannabis pharmacies. Patients must be active medical cannabis cardholders and enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare to apply.
  • UDAF may regulate language on medical cannabis labels describing physiological effects.
  • Patients may use a tribal government-issued photo identification to apply for a medical cannabis card and to verify their identity when they purchase medical cannabis.

Background checks

  • Medical cannabis caregivers and guardians no longer have to undergo a background check. Instead, they must attest they’ve never violated the requirements of the DHHS medical cannabis statute, been convicted of a felony within the past 10 years, or been convicted of a misdemeanor for drug distribution after December 3, 2018. 

Adults with a legal guardian

  • An adult with a legal guardian is eligible for a provisional patient card if the legal guardian submits their government issued photo identification as part of a guardian card application.