UTAH CANN EVENT GUIDE

WELCOME TO UTAH CANN 2022

UTAH CANN RETURNS Mikey Saltas

The cannabis industry in Utah is growing at a rapid pace—the Medical Cannabis Program is now entering its third year of implementation. There’s more access, more users and more products than ever before, and knowledge and learning opportunities are growing, too.

The third annual Utah Cann Business Conference and Expo, scheduled for May 13 and 14 at the Utah State Fairpark, is a resource for Utahns to learn more about hemp and cannabis.

Utah Cann got its beginnings back in October 2018 ahead of the vote for Prop 2, the bill that opened the door for medical cannabis consumption in the state. The first conference was a success—state representatives and senators met alongside local business people and spokespersons for cannabis in a public forum.

Then in May of 2019, Utah Cann rolled out a second conference—House Bill 3001 was recently passed to amend Prop 2, easing the restrictions and setting a better parameter around cannabis consumption in Utah. The second conference was a breakout event for Utah Cann. From a few hundred people and a handful of vendors just a few months prior, the event blossomed to a weekend gathering of over 60 vendors and thousands of people. The speakers included some of the top minds in the cannabis sector in and out of Utah, and the experience for attendees was overwhelmingly positive.

The Covid-19 pandemic derailed plans for a scheduled event in 2020 and 2021, but Utah Cann is excited to return with the help of our cohost, Salt Baked City. Together, we are bringing new ideas and opportunities to Utahns and their businesses in this two-day cannabis event.

Pete Saltas, organizer of Utah Cann Business Conference and Expo, is thrilled to bring back the conference for another year.

“It’s a great event for the state,” Saltas said. “Our first two conferences were all about giving people the resources they needed to learn and understand cannabis. Now that adoption has increased, we want our third conference to be the biggest and best yet for attendees.”

More information can be found at UtahCann.com

UTAH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CENTER FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS UPDATES IN 2022

Utah Department of Health Center for Medical Cannabis Updates in 2022: Cost Transparency, Extended Card Approvals and the Limited Medical Provider Program

Sarah Woolsey, MD, MPH, Center for Medical Cannabis

The Center for Medical Cannabis is pleased to share program upgrades making access to appropriate care easier for Utah patients.

First, in partnership with the Office of the State Auditor and their Utah Health Cost Compare tool, costs for cash pay medical cannabis visits are now shared on a public website. Patients can search by provider name, clinic, or location and see the average and highest costs. The site directs patients with insurance to check with their preferred medical provider and health insurance company to verify costs. The information is up to date as of January 2022, and the Center for Medical Cannabis will update the visit cost information at least once per year. Check it out at https://healthcost.utah.gov/.

The Center has also made changes to cardholder expiration dates to decrease costs to patients and extend their card approval times. Initial medical cannabis cards are now issued with a 6-month expiration. The card renewal cost is $15. Patients who apply for the first renewal of their card prior to April 30, 2022, will still pay the $5 renewal fee at 90 days.

Finally, as of January, any MD, DO, APRN, PA, or podiatrist with proper licensure may now recommend medical cannabis to a limited number of their qualifying patients. The Limited Medical Provider program sponsored by Representative Ray Ward and Senator Luz Escamilla in the 2021 Legislative session is now up and running. These legislative leaders hope this process will allow patients to seek their preferred providers and streamline their medical treatment with one clinician. The patient process for registration has not changed. Utah Medical Cannabis pharmacies are all prepared to accept the new recommendation forms from provider offices. The Center for Medical Cannabis is holding training sessions for medical providers to orient them to the new program and it will continue to educate providers on this new opportunity throughout the year. More information for patients is available at medicalcannabis.utah.gov.

Please contact the Center for Medical Cannabis at medicalcannabis@utah.gov with any questions about these updates.

As with most medical cannabis programs, Utah’s initial run has had its speed bumps along the way. One of those bumps was recently torn out and paved over, smoothing the path to relief for many patients. The bump in question was the relatively small number of medical providers across the state able to recommend medical cannabis to patients. The change came due to the newly formed “LMP” designation as part of a law passed by the State Legislature this session. This was a direct response to patient outcry for easier access to a physician able to prescribe cannabis. So, what is an LMP? How is it different from a QMP? Will we ever have enough acronyms?.. Read more to find out. The LMP is of the same variety as the QMP though in further abundance. LMP stands for Limited Medical Provider; while QMP stands for Qualified Medical Provider. There are currently around 810 QMPs in the state, while there are an estimated 16,000 individuals who now qualify as an LMP. The difference between the two being the amount of medical cannabis training required by the state and the number of medical cannabis cards the medical provider is able to issue to their various patient populations. The new LMP designation allows medical providers (physicians, nurse practitioners and others) to recommend up to 15 medical cannabis patients each. There are of course may questions surrounding this change. Will more patients switch from a QMP to LMP as their card expires and needs renewing? Will there be an influx of new patients who are more willing to ask their personal physician/medical provider about a cannabis recommendation? And what sort of cost savings will the patient actually see through this measure? Some of these questions are revealing answers already; others we’ll have to wait for.

By allowing more medical providers across the state to recommend medical cannabis, the idea is hoping to cut down on the costs for patients who previously may have gone to a QMP but paid a higher fee due to the limited number of QMPs that were available. It is also expected a recommendation from an LMP could take place during a routine visit and would incur minimal additional time and monetary costs. A quick pit stop on the road to relief. With some paying hundreds of dollars for their medical card recommendations prior and making long drives to the nearest metro area for a QMP, this is a welcome change.

The overall process for receiving a medical cannabis recommendation from an LMP is basically the same as the prior QMP route. A patient meets with the provider and assuming they have a qualifying condition the provider will recommend the medical cannabis card. The application that the provider completes is simple, being one full page in length and asking fairly routine questions. Once the application is complete and submitted the patent must wait for card approval which can take a few days. When the recommendation is approved by the state, well, it’s off to the races.

RYAN FRITZCHE FROM CBD CREDIT CARD PROCESSING

As the nation continues to work on the legality of cannabis, CBD, Delta 8 and other derivative products and have legalized them in many states, there is still a disconnect with the banking system. Even with the Safe Banking Act, the truth and reality is that the banking industry doesn’t understand the industry and many don’t want to. This leaves many cannabis businesses in a hard spot, unable to accept credit cards or secure proper banking relationships.

THE CHALLENGE

LIMITED ACCESS TO MERCHANT ACCOUNT SERVICES

1. Depending on what type of cannabis business one has, payment processing solutions are hard to obtain and may come with high fees to accept credit and debit card payments. Unfortunately, there are rumors that the card brands and federal government may target dispensary businesses accepting alternative forms of payment, including debit only solutions.

LIMITED ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL BANKING

2. Lets be real. The banking system is a conservative, old school industry. Most banks will not work with the cannabis industry. This limits banking options and creates problems for businesses needing depository accounts, especially where large sums of cash is deposited.

TRANSPORTING CASH IS RISKY AND COMPLICATED

3. For those businesses working with large sums of cash, oftentimes, they must arrange for their own security, transportation and processes. This comes with risk and can become complicated, especially with many traditional banks.

HOLDING LARGE VOLUMES OF CASH INCREASES RISK OF THEFT

4. Businesses holding large amounts of cash face a real threat of theft. Managing this risk costs businesses time, money, resources and peace of mind.

THE SOLUTION

Fortunately, Cannabis businesses now have an option. That option comes in the form of a Cash Vault where cash can be deposited into a vault and kept secure. Upon set up, a safe is installed at the business location and automatic secure pickups are scheduled. Cash can now be deposited into the business bank account in a secure and reliable process.

The process all begins with depositing cash into the vault. Bills are placed on the interfaced bill counter on the vault in which it is then validated in real time and securely stored inside the vault. The Vault software creates a batch of the cash deposits, totals these batches and credits the cannabis businesses account the next business day. The batch process occurs every night. Now, the business can feel confident, they will receive their cash funds within one business day.

So, what about the cash in the Vault? The intuitive software recognizes when the vault reaches 85% capacity in the vault in cash. The Vault creates and sends an automated notification to a cash pickup service provider. Cash pickups are scheduled weekly, but can be scheduled on demand or when notification is sent. With the advance of Cash, the business no longer needs to be concerned about their cash getting deposited into their bank. The Cash Vault solution fronts the cash so the business doesn’t need to worry.

With all the challenges facing the cannabis industry, cash and payment for products shouldn’t be one of them!

Of the 15 qualifying conditions for Medical Cannabis in Utah, only one of them is a mental health condition: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

My name is Clif Uckerman. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and I’m working with Utah Therapeutic Health Center to treat PTSD patients who can benefit from Medical Cannabis.

HOW TO APPLY

To qualify for Medical Cannabis in Utah, a PTSD patient needs to meet a couple of criteria:

1. Has a formal PTSD diagnosis from the VA, a psychiatrist, a masters-level psychologist, a psychiatric APRN, or a masters-level LCSW.

2. Is being treated and monitored by a licensed health therapist.

As a masters-level LCSW, I can help you with both! My partnership with UTTHC will help to streamline the process to make Medical Cannabis available for my patients.

Through this collaboration we can provide:

1. Reduced costs of therapy and costsavings for the Medical Cannabis Card (initial visits and renewals) As mentioned earlier, a PTSD patient needs a formal diagnosis and ongoing therapy to be eligible for a Utah Medical Cannabis Card. Once we diagnose someone with PTSD, we can move forward with their therapy, including assistance with the next steps in applying for a Medical Cannabis Card.

2. Warm hand-offs from provider to provider, including the LCSW, the Qualified Medical Provider, and Pharmacy Medical Provider

3. Assistance with Utah’s Medical Cannabis Electronic Verification System (EVS) 4. Introduction and exposure to other alternative and complimentary wellness services that have been proven to enhance positive outcomes (quality of life and life satisfaction) as well as improve health and extend life. Our behavioral health clinic accepts most major insurance carriers, and we accept payments through HSA and FSA accounts. We also have a discount program that can help you reduce the cost of your canna-therapy by up to 50%. Give us a call at 801-851-5554 to go over your payment options.

After receiving a PTSD diagnosis, the patient will then need to speak with a Qualified Medical Provider for a Medical Cannabis recommendation.

The state asks new Medical Cannabis patients to allow up to two weeks for their cards to be approved and sent – but we often see cards issued within 24 hours.

MANY PTSD PATIENTS PREFER INHALATION TO OTHER CANNABIS DELIVERY METHODS.

PTSD is the second-most-common qualifying condition for which people seek Medical Cannabis recommendations in Utah.

A recent report from the Utah Department of Health shows about 4,000 PTSD patients have been issued Medical Cannabis Cards. That figure represents about 11% of the total number of Utah’s Medical Cannabis cardholders. When you first enter therapy for PTSD, your therapist will use some standard questionnaires to help assess your mental health. You’ll talk about the life events that led to your trauma and the symptoms associated with it.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD, you and your therapist can work together to develop an ongoing trauma-focused treatment plan. With these two requirements met, we’ll refer you to one of our Qualified Medical

PROVIDERS TO TALK ABOUT CANNABIS.

Our staff will help you with the entire process of getting your Medical Cannabis Card. Once you have your card, you can shop at any of Utah’s cannabis pharmacies.

The QMP you meet with may or may not have specific suggestions for cannabis products and delivery methods for you to try. In either case, a Pharmacy Medical Provider (PMP) at your local cannabis pharmacy can help you make those initial decisions.

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR CANNABIS TREATMENT

Now that you have access to Medical Cannabis, you can begin to incorporate it into your PTSD treatment. You’ll continue meeting with your therapist for one-on-one trauma-focused treatment planning.

I encourage and affirm my patients who use cannabis to treat PTSD. Through my own practice, I’ve personally witnessed some of the positive changes cannabis can have for PTSD patients. 46 | Salt Baked City | Spring 2022

If you’re working with a Canna-Therapist like me, we’ll talk about ways to infuse your treatment with a Medical Cannabis regimen. Cannabis is just one of the tools we’ll talk about to help you manage PTSD symptoms. When using cannabis as part of PTSD treatment, our goal is to improve the patient’s life satisfaction and quality of life. To that end, we need to know what’s working and what isn’t so we can make adjustments.

That’s why I always recommend keeping track of the cannabis strains, delivery methods, ratios, and doses you use to treat your condition. This information helps you get the best possible treatment, and it helps me make better recommendations for my other patients. Each of my patients can rest assured knowing that the cannabis treatment plan we develop together is customized for that person’s specific needs. For this to work, we need to keep track of any positive or negative effects that Medical Cannabis may have.

There may be a bit of “trial and error” as you begin using cannabis therapeutically. We can start with some basic recommendations, but you may find other ratios, doses, strains, or

delivery methods work better.

KEEPING NOTES ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL CANNABIS USE HELPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR THERAPY.

CANNA-THERAPY PHILOSOPHIES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

provider. By keeping an open-door policy for my patients and fellow healthcare providers, we can always have clear communication. Working with cannabis can sometimes make us feel isolated from the rest of the medical community. My patients and staff know their thoughts, opinions, and ideas are valuable in sustaining Utah’s Medical Cannabis program. None of us is more or less capable than our peers of bringing positive changes to this industry.

As healthcare providers and patients, we owe it to ourselves to keep learning as much as we can about Medical Cannabis. By keeping up with the latest research and emerging trends, we can continue refining our approach to cannabis medicine. Our patients get the greatest benefit from cannabis when we’ve been able to make informed recommendations.

Cannabis has massive therapeutic potential, but it also has risks and contraindications to consider. Although cannabis is a powerful tool in treating PTSD, Canna-Therapists should keep the potential for abuse in mind. We recognize that cannabis can be misprescribed or overprescribed, so our recommendations should reflect the patient’s actual needs. When working with patients who use cannabis, we encourage them to focus on the plant’s legitimate medicinal value. We try to help them keep a medicinal, rather than a recreational, mindset when thinking about their cannabis use. We also want to help our patients understand how to remain in compliance with state law after receiving their cards.

We recognize that every person we treat has a unique set of life circumstances and needs. We’ll be glad to help you figure out the best ways to incorporate cannabis into a healthy and happy lifestyle.

Canna-Therapy is an exciting new frontier in Behavioral Health, and the cannabis industry and cannabis community need us! If you are interested in Canna-Therapy, whether as a patient or as a therapist, please email clif@ outpatientbh.com or text 801-382-8259.

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BY: PAUL KEMP

We are seeing a big shift in the hemp industry. As outdoor harvests sit in warehouses, hemp farmers have been desperate to break even on their investments, even accepting significant losses, as they reform their strategies or exit the industry altogether. The hemp market is currently super saturated, but not in every category. Indoor grown hemp crops that are being grown specifically for flower products are on the rise. While outdoor grown flower ounces have yet to bottom out with retail prices hovering between $20-$80 per Oz, indoor grown ounces are on the rise soaring to $140-$200 per Oz in some areas.

What’s happening? Well, it turns out growing high quality hemp is hard. Many farmers saw the dollar signs in 2018 and 2019 but had no formal or even informal training growing hemp or cannabis. What the industry ended up with is thousands of tons of low grade, bottom-shelf hemp flower and no buyers. With so much product and nowhere to move it, farmers had to get creative quick to make payments to investors, banks, and lenders and what the industry ended up with is the current THC isomer flood of delta-8, delta-10, THC-O, and HHC hitting the market. A simple search on places like Facebook shows sellers looking to move hundreds, even thousands of pounds, for ever decreasing prices, dipping as low as $20-$50 per pound. Some analysts claim that there is currently enough raw hemp biomass on the market to keep up industry demand for oil, edibles, concentrates, isolates, and distillates for the next 1-2 years, and as states begin closing the loopholes for these THC isomer products, pricing on raw biomass and extracted isomers is set to continue falling.

So what’s the deal with indoor flower? For decades, the word “hemp” has invoked thoughts of tall, wild type plants that made good rope and oil you could run a hippie-mobile on. Some indoor grows are now cultivating fully compliant hemp crops to the same standard as major medical cannabis growers. What you end up with is a top shelf, terpene and cannabinoid rich flower, with all the smells and tastes of medical grade cannabis, but without the high levels of THC. As they say in the cannabis industry, “this isn’t the weed your grandparents smoked.” Interestingly enough, this has started a niche market of enthusiasts and patients that enjoy smoking and vaping cannabis, with all the benefits of the major cannabinoids minus THC. And they’re willing to pay for it.

But don’t be fooled. With the emergence of this niche market, we’ve seen outdoor farmers getting desperate. These days you can find “infused” flower at pretty much every gas station and smoke shop in states that allow flower sales, and everywhere online. And just what is an infused flower? By and large it’s low grade outdoor buds that have been bought cheap, sprayed (yes like with a paint sprayer) with delta-8, delta-10, and HHC isolate, dried, and then sold at a huge markup touting its psychoactive effects. Sounds sketchy? That’s because it is. Currently there is virtually no regulation on extraction and infusion processes in the US for converting hemp biomass into THC isomers, which has been a major driver in states attempting to close these loophole industries via legislation, and there are currently 20 states that have bans of some form on THC isomer products. One current attempt at reigning in the loopholes is the Hemp Advancement Bill, which would severely restrict the THC isomer industry while increasing allowable THC levels in hemp flower to 1%.

While states and the federal government look to tackle THC isomers, indoor wholesale hemp flower has been steadily climbing. A market average of $600-$800 per pound has nearly doubled in some areas where markets are reacting to what customers are willing to buy, and with foreign markets in certain countries beginning to slowly open, it’s a strong bet that there will be plenty of demand.

Until any changes do occur, the industry is set to continue the flood of low grade outdoor hemp biomass. And even with the USDA changes that took effect in January, which change the 30 day pre harvest testing from 0.3% delta-9 THC to 0.3% total THC, the industry is expected to grow enough compliant biomass to keep the market saturated through to 2026, continuing the decline in pricing for low-grade outdoor flower.

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