FILE- In this Jan. 28, 2019, file photo, marijuana buds are shown, in Akron, Ohio. Utah state officials say they will not release the names of medical marijuana license applicants right now but will likely make applicant information public as soon as licenses are awarded next month. Chris Hughes with Utah's Division of Purchasing said this week that releasing applicants' names before licenses are awarded could negatively sway the process or give potential growers an unfair advantage. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File )

Logan Physician Dr. Ed Redd was appointed as one of seven physicians for a medical marijuana Compassionate Use Board. The Utah Senate recently confirmed and announced the appointments in a news release on June 25.

According to the Utah Department of Health, the board will be responsible for approving medical cannabis patients card to applicants under the age of 21.

The board will also hear cases of applicants seeking medical marijuana to treat conditions not currently approved under the Utah Medical Cannabis Act.

Dr. Redd is an internal medicine specialist and past member of the Utah State Legislature representing Logan’s District 4.

“The important thing is that we are a Compassionate Use Board,” said Dr. Redd. “We consider each case individually. We don’t just rubber stamp and say, ‘no.’ There will be some judgement exercised based upon what the patients’ problems are, impairment to their quality of life, and what they’ve already tried.”

Cases coming before the board will be complicated, according to Dr. Redd, and because some individuals don’t respond well to traditional medical treatment the board will “do the best we can to make reasonable choices. I can only speak for myself, but we are going to probably air on the side of compassion when there is a lot of doubt,” he said.

In addition to Dr. Redd, the following physicians were also appointed to serve as members of the board:

     Dr. Joel Ehrenkranz, internal medicine and expert in the use of medical cannabis.

     Dr. Angelo Giardino, pediatrician and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine and   Chief Medical Officer of Primary Children’s Hospital.

     Dr. Nicholas Whipple, pediatric hematology-oncology at the University of Utah

     Dr. Meghan Ward, neurology and epilepsy, Intermountain Healthcare.

     Dr. Richard Segal, psychiatrist.

     Dr. Colleen Marty, pediatrician and hospice and palliative medicine

Dr. Redd anticipates the board will meet this fall to get things organized, then meet on a quarterly basis thereafter to discuss individual cases.

State officials legalized medical marijuana with the passage of Utah Medical Cannabis Act in December. Utah will issue patient cards by March 2020.