All Roll Calls
Yes: 136 • No: 1
UtahH.B. 3572025 General SessionHouseWALLET
Medical Cannabis Modifications
Sponsored By: Raymond P. Ward (Republican)
Signed by Governor
AgricultureBusinessControlled SubstancesHealth and Human ServicesAgriculture & FoodMedical CannabisOccupational and Professional Licensing
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
12 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.
Cannabis users gain family court protections
Beginning July 1, 2025, a parent's or guardian's cannabis use alone is not child abuse or neglect. Courts can still act on harm, unreasonable risk from chronic exposure, or use linked to independently abusive or neglectful behavior. Without harm or unreasonable risk, compliant medical cannabis use is not against a child's best interests. For cardholders' use after January 1, 2021, this protection requires compliance with medical cannabis law without unreasonable departures from dosing directions. Use before January 1, 2021 must meet the separate state-law exceptions for that period. Juvenile courts must also treat cannabis possession or use allowed by the listed state laws like lawful prescribed controlled-substance use. The medical-cannabis-law route requires reasonable compliance with provider directions or directions set through the required consultation.
Terminal patients can get purchase waivers
A recommending provider can request a waiver of the 28-day cannabis purchase limit for a terminally ill cardholder. The patient must have six months or less to live and need the waiver for comfort care. The health department must consult the Compassionate Use Board and respond within 10 days after receiving the request. A waiver can last up to 180 days.
Provider patient caps exclude insurance-paid care
A recommending provider can serve no more than 1.5% of all medical cannabis patient cardholders. A patient does not count toward that cap when the provider receives insurance payment for services under the cannabis law. The cap limits a provider's patient load, while the insurance exception allows additional patients.
Cannabis containers carry stronger health warnings
Processing facilities must place health warnings on cannabis containers labeled on or after January 1, 2024. These cover mental illness risk, intoxicating effects, addiction, impairment, child safety, and medical use. Containers labeled on or after January 1, 2026 must also warn about use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. That warning covers possible fetal injury, preterm birth, or developmental problems for the child.
Patients get provider and fee listings
The health department must post an online contact list of recommending providers. Providers choose whether to join the list. Listed providers must give their name, office or employer address, and either their fee or whether they bill insurance. The department must share this information with the state auditor for the health care price comparison tool.
More ways patients get cannabis recommendations
Patients on hospice, with terminal illness, or living in assisted living or nursing care facilities can get virtual cannabis recommendations. Virtual visits also work for patients who previously received an in-person recommendation from the same provider. Current patients who previously met that provider in person also qualify. Hospice programs must provide at least one recommending medical provider for their patients.
Patients get more cannabis caregiver options
A cardholder can name one eligible care facility alongside one individual caregiver. Assisted living and nursing care facilities qualify for their patients or residents; general acute hospitals qualify for their patients. Facility staff can help with treatment and receive cannabis shipments, under health department rules. A parent or guardian denied a guardian card can name up to two caregivers for a minor. The parent or guardian must first consult the minor and a recommending medical provider.
Clinicians gain protections for cannabis recommendations
Recommending providers receive specified civil, criminal, and licensing protections for recommendations made under state medical cannabis law. They still owe patients reasonable and ordinary care. Lawful recommendations by covered advanced practice nurses, physicians, and physician assistants are not themselves unprofessional conduct. The same protection applies to recommending podiatrists acting within their field. Licensing officials must define unprofessional conduct for covered licensees with input from the relevant boards.
Pharmacies record recommendations with added checks
Pharmacy medical providers and agents can record recommendations or renewals from recommending providers in the state's electronic system. Required recording can activate a patient's card, and pharmacy providers can set dosing directions at the recommending provider's request. For the covered provider categories, pharmacies must verify written orders and electronic orders selected by department rules. They must enter verified recommendations and other qualifying electronic orders, including dosing and caregiver details. Before recommending or renewing treatment, providers must review accessible patient records, including controlled-substance records; for minors, they must also review accessible parent or guardian records.
Cannabis providers face marketing and payment limits
The law removes the former advertising and recommendation-payment provisions but sets out replacement restrictions. Providers and clinics can advertise only listed details, including names, logos, conditions treated, evaluation services, studies, and contact information. Targeted marketing is allowed under health department rules. Recommending providers cannot accept recommendation payments or benefits from cannabis producers, pharmacies, recommending providers, or pharmacy medical providers. Recommending at an office that breaks advertising limits, or accepting prohibited payments, counts as unprofessional conduct.
Providers skip registration but need training
Recommending providers no longer need the former department registration or its education requirements. They must meet recommending-provider qualifications, complete four hours of cannabis education, and confirm four hours of education every two years. Recommendations require a provider-patient relationship and a thorough, documented review of the patient's condition and medical history. Podiatrists must stay within their field, and patient-delivered written recommendations must include required provider and patient details. The health department may develop related education with licensing officials. University of Utah physicians overseeing pain-treatment fellowships must be recommending medical providers.
License renewal education credits change
Licensing officials must count physicians' education completed under the cannabis pharmacy medical provider education provision toward license-renewal hours. This replaces the reference to the former recommending-provider education provision. Officials no longer have an express duty to count education under that former provision toward advanced practice nurses' renewal requirements. The law also removes the requirement to count that education toward physician assistants' renewal hours.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Raymond P. Ward
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Luz Escamilla
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/7/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 29 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/28/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 68 • No: 1
House vote • 2/24/2025
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/18/2025
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
House vote • 2/18/2025
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 12 • No: 0
House vote • 2/18/2025
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/26/2025House/ to Governor
3/13/2025HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/13/2025HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/12/2025HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/12/2025Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/7/2025Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/7/2025House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/7/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/28/2025SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
2/28/2025SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/28/2025SenateSenate/ to standing committee
2/26/2025SenateSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2/25/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
2/25/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/24/2025HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
2/24/2025HouseHouse/ floor amendment
2/24/2025HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
2/24/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/12/2025
Amended 2/24/2025 17:02:651
2/24/2025
Amended 2/18/2025 14:02:693
2/18/2025
Substitute #1
2/5/2025
Introduced
1/29/2025