The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) will begin accepting applications for the second of two independent medical cannabis pharmacies. This process is required by House Bill 54, which was passed during the 2025 legislative session.
The application period is scheduled to run from August 3, 2026, through September 2, 2026. One goal of the legislation is to expand medical cannabis access for qualifying patients in underserved and rural parts of Utah.
The new independent pharmacy must operate under UDAF regulations to maintain product quality and patient safety. Following the review of applications for eligibility, the Specialized Product Authority Licensing Board will choose one applicant for licensure. The new license must be issued before January 1, 2027.
To be eligible, applicants must show a comprehensive understanding of medical cannabis regulations, have sufficient financial resources, and propose a compliant, secure facility. The new licensee cannot have a financial interest in a medical cannabis pharmacy or be owned by an entity that has an interest in or operates a medical cannabis production establishment.
Additionally, the pharmacy must be located in a medically underserved area within a third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class county. Applicants are required to provide a facility layout, a security plan, standard operating procedures for inventory and dispensing, and information regarding the qualifications of key personnel, such as technicians and pharmacists.
Interested parties can access application documents online at https://udafgrants.utah.gov/submit starting August 3, 2026. All submissions must be completed through the online portal, and applicants must register for a Utah ID.
For assistance, inquiries can be directed to cannabis@utah.gov. Further information is available on the UDAF page for Medical Cannabis Pharmacies at ag.utah.gov/specialized-products/medical-cannabis/medical-cannabis-pharmacy-information/
