Important Information about Medical Cannabis

Treatment Using Cannabis is Still Being Researched

Existing studies show using cannabis products may or may not result in an improvement in your
condition. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved cannabis use to treat medical conditions,
and cannabis remains a federally illegal substance. However, healthcare providers in Utah are legally
allowed to recommend cannabis for use by qualifying patients under state law. Cannabis is a term that
refers to a variety of plants. Medical cannabis refers to specific chemicals obtained from a cannabis
plant that may be medically helpful for some patients. The primary ingredients in medical cannabis that
will be contained in products approved for use in Utah are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD
(cannabidiol).

Common Side Effects

The most common side effects of using medical cannabis products are dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth,
lightheadedness, drowsiness, and nausea. Side effects are usually mild to moderate in severity and last
only a few hours, but sometimes severe side effects occur. A person’s response to medical cannabis can
depend on many things, such as the amount of THC and/or CBD in the product and other medications
the person is taking. You should not take medical cannabis with other medications and/or substances
that may cause drowsiness. Substances that may cause drowsiness include alcohol, sleep medicines, and
antihistamines. If you have questions about side effects, contact a pharmacist at the medical cannabis
pharmacy where you purchased the product, your recommending healthcare provider, or the Utah
Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Start Low, Go Slow

Every patient reacts differently to the chemicals in cannabis, specifically THC and/or CBD, so it is best to
start with a low amount of cannabis and then increase the amount slowly over time until symptoms are
relieved or side effects develop. Pharmacists at the medical cannabis pharmacies will follow this “start
low, go slow” approach. Talk to the pharmacist at a medical cannabis pharmacy or your recommending
healthcare provider about the best form and amount of medical cannabis for you and what to do if side
effects occur. You may want to purchase a smaller supply of medical cannabis during your first few visits
to a medical cannabis pharmacy until you learn how you respond to a particular cannabis product.
Tell Your Healthcare Providers about the Medical Cannabis Product(s)
You are Using
Medical cannabis may interfere with other drugs you are taking. Make sure to tell all of your healthcare
providers about the medical cannabis products you are taking. Your healthcare providers may need to
conduct blood tests or adjust the amounts of other medications you are taking. It is especially important
to tell all of your healthcare providers when you are going to receive anesthesia or major sedation in an
office or operating room. Cannabis use can increase the amounts of the medications you may need for
sedation or anesthesia.

Medical Cannabis and Other Medications

Do not take cannabis if you are taking Cilostazol (Pletal), Clopidogrel (Plavix), Clobazam (Onfi or
Sympazan), or Citalopram (Celexa). Several other medications will require careful monitoring by your
recommending healthcare provider; Warfarin (Coumadin) is one such medication. Be sure to talk to
your recommending healthcare provider about other medications you are taking.

Risk of Impairment when Driving and Operating Machinery

Using medical cannabis can effect perception, reaction time, motor skills, and attention in ways that
make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. The length and severity of this kind of impairment
changes from patient to patient and depends on multiple factors. Impairment is more common when
taking medical cannabis products with higher THC content. Drinking alcohol while taking medical
cannabis worsens the impairment.

Risk of Dependence and Addiction

Using medical cannabis could lead to cannabis dependence. The risk of developing a cannabis-use
problem is higher with products that are higher in THC content, and for people who already have a
substance use disorder or have had one in the past. Medical cannabis should be used with caution and
with input from your healthcare provider, especially if you have a substance use disorder. Among heavy,
regular users of cannabis products (whether or not they are medical), stopping use abruptly can lead to
withdrawal symptoms. The risk of withdrawal symptoms for medical cannabis products varies by
product content (THC and/or CBD) and amount.

Risk of Excessive Vomiting

In rare instances, cannabis use can carry the risk of excessive, severe vomiting, daily nausea, and
abdominal pain that repeats in one to three week cycle. If you experience these symptoms, you should
stop using the cannabis product and contact your healthcare provider.
Risk for Use by Persons with Heart or Liver Disease
Use medical cannabis with caution if you have heart or liver disease. Cannabis use could cause a heart
attack in patients known to have heart disease. Cannabis use increases heart rate and lowers blood
pressure. This can result in harmful effects in patients with heart disease. Liver disease could cause
problems with how the body uses and processes cannabis, affecting the safety and potency of medical
cannabis.

Risk for Use by Individuals Younger than Age 22

People under the age of 22 may have a higher risk of harm from cannabis use. There is evidence that
cannabis use during the active period of brain development can lead to permanent brain damage. There
is also an association between use of cannabis in this age group and developing mental illnesses, such as
schizophrenia. The younger a person is when they start using cannabis, the more likely they are to
develop a cannabis use disorder.

Risk for Use by Women Who are Pregnant or Breastfeeding

Women who are pregnant, are planning to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding should talk to a
healthcare provider before using cannabis. There is evidence that using cannabis while pregnant can
cause harm to the developing baby, such as low birth weight, premature birth, and/or brain damage (as
noted above). Cannabis use by a mother while breastfeeding can transfer the chemicals in cannabis to
the infant through the breast milk, and could cause harm to the infant.

Risk of Mental Illness

Cannabis use may be associated with severe periods of mental illness (psychotic episodes) and frequent,
recurring periods of mental illness (psychotic disease). This risk appears to be higher with cannabis
products that have higher amounts of THC and lower amounts of CBD. There is evidence that cannabis
use adds to the risk of developing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia – especially in people who
also have other risk factors. A family history of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders can put you at
higher risk. For that reason, cannabis should not be used or should be used with great caution in
patients with a family history of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

Keep Medications Secure and in Their Original Containers

Medical cannabis products may look similar to common household products, as well as other
medications, making it easy to accidentally consume a medical cannabis product. When medications are
not in their original containers, it is easier to mix up the identity of a medication. As with any
medication, medical cannabis should be kept in a secure place where others, especially children, cannot
access it. Please remember that edible cannabis products that are designed to look like other food
items, such as cookies or brownies, are not allowed under Utah law. If you have concerns about a child
or adult who accidentally consumed cannabis in any form, call the Utah Poison Control Center at 1-800-
222-1222.

Use Medical Cannabis Legally

Under Utah law, medical cannabis may only be used in a legal form. Smoking or burning cannabis
products for inhalation is not a legal form. However, a medical cannabis cardholder can warm their
medical cannabis into a vapor for inhalation without the use of a flame (vaping). Please remember that
the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act prohibits vaping in all indoor places of public access, publicly owned
buildings, offices, and many publicly accessible outdoor areas. The only exception to vaping medical
cannabis in these prohibited indoor places and outdoor areas is to treat a serious medical emergency.

Do Not Sell, Resell, or Gift Medical Cannabis

In Utah, sharing medical cannabis is a crime, and can result in criminal charges, civil monetary penalties,
or expulsion from the Utah Medical Cannabis Program. Under Utah law, it is illegal for a medical
cannabis cardholder to sell or gift cannabis products, cannabis devices, or cannabis residue to another
person.

801-538-6504

medicalcannabis@utah.gov