Utah Medical Marijuana Officials Launch Applications For New Independent Pharmacy License In ‘Underserved’ Area
- Utah will accept applications from August 3 to September 2 to license a second independent medical cannabis pharmacy in a medically underserved or rural area with a smaller population than Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, or Weber counties.
- The new pharmacy license is part of HB54, a 2025 law expanding medical cannabis pharmacies across Utah, especially encouraging independent operators over large corporations.
- The first independent pharmacy, Boojum in Moab, opened recently, providing local access that reduces long travels and legal risks for patients needing medical cannabis.
- Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of medical cannabis regulations, financial capability, and secure facilities; the chosen licensee will be selected by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food by January 1, 2027.
“Having dependable local access to cannabis means that those who need it most will be able to access it safely and legally.”
By Kate McKellar, Utah News Dispatch
Next week, Utah state officials will begin accepting applications to license a new independent medical cannabis pharmacy to be located in a “medically underserved” or rural area with a population that’s smaller than Salt Lake, Utah, Davis or Weber counties.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announced in a news release Tuesday the application period will open on August 3, and it will remain open until September 2.
The application is for the second of two independent medical cannabis pharmacies required to open under HB54, a bill passed by the Utah Legislature in 2025 that, among other measures, expanded the number of medical cannabis pharmacies allowed to operate in the state, including in “medically underserved” areas.
It also aimed to create more opportunities for pharmacy operators that aren’t owned by large medical cannabis corporations.
The first independent medical cannabis pharmacy to open under the bill was Boojum in Moab. Before it opened, the nearest medical cannabis pharmacy was in Price, a nearly two-hour drive away.
Before Boojum opened this year, its chief science officer Olivia Kulunder told Moab Sun News “we were awarded this license over a two billion dollar holdings corporation from Chicago.”
“While we might not have over 150 dispensaries to our name, that means we will be pouring everything we have into this one pharmacy,” Kulunder told the outlet at the time.
Kulunder, who grew up in Castle Valley, also said the licensing board cited Boojum’s local connection as a key reason for awarding its license.
“We do know that this distance drives a lot of people to go out of state, which carries legal risks,” Kulander told Moab Sun News. “Having dependable local access to cannabis means that those who need it most will be able to access it safely and legally.”
Now it’s up to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food to decide where the next pharmacy will go.
The independent medical cannabis pharmacy will be required to operate under Utah Department of Agriculture and Food regulations “to ensure patient safety and product quality,” the department said.
To be eligible for the license, applications “must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of medical cannabis regulations, possess the necessary financial resources, and propose a secure and compliant facility,” the department said.
The following requirements must also be met:
After state officials review the applications, they’ll pick one proposed pharmacy to receive the license, which must be issued no later than January 1, 2027.
For more information on how to apply, visit the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s website.
This story was first published by Utah News Dispatch.