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Summary of differences between federal and state regulations
Medical marijuana
The Utah Medical Cannabis Act allows medical marijuana to be recommended for patients with specific qualifying conditions. Medical marijuana cannot be smoked.
Under the Utah Workers’ Compensation Act, an employer is not required to pay or reimburse for cannabis, a cannabis product, or a medical cannabis device.
The Utah Medical Cannabis Act includes nondiscrimination provisions for government employers, but does not mention private employers. The state or any political subdivision is to treat an employee’s use of medical marijuana in the same way it treats employee use of opioids or opiates. This does not apply if it would jeopardize federal funding for the employee’s position.
A state employee who is eligible for retirement benefits would not lose benefits for legally using marijuana under the Utah Medical Cannabis Act.
The state’s Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, and Department of Technology Services oversee the electronic verification system facilitating the recommendation, dispensing, and record-keeping for medical cannabis transactions.
Recreational marijuana
Utah has no state laws legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes.
State
Regulations
Utah Medical Cannabis Act, Utah Code 26-61a-101 et seq.
Utah State Retirement and Medical Insurance Act, Utah Code 49-11-1401
Utah Workers’ Compensation Act, Utah Code 34A-2-418