The Salt Lake Tribune reported that a bill approved by the House, which contains minor additions to Utah’s medical marijuana program, was advanced last week by a Senate committee.
As originally written, HB203 would have added 25 licenses to the state medical cannabis program and established a cannabis ombudsman position to help oversee the industry. The proposal that advanced from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, however, looks quite different from the House-approved version — the bill now only expands the number of medical cannabis licensees by two, and the Senate committee also removed the ombudsman role from the proposal.
It was passed by the House 57-15 last month, and then stagnated on the Senate committee due to pressures from conservative groups like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The committee voted to send the proposal on to the Senate. The House would need to re-examine the proposal if it is approved.
Rep. Jennifer Dailey Provost (D), the sponsor of HB203, described in her report a feeling of “betrayal & frustration” after seeing the proposal languish for so many years in committee despite making “literally everything that was requested.” She was however relieved when the bill was advanced.
I’m so glad the senators allowed us to reconsider the bill, and took into consideration that cannabis is a complex issue. Our focus must be on our opportunity and obligation. … If we don’t do it, then some of the legitimate problems that are out there will perpetuate.” — Dailey-Provost, via The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah legalized the use of medical marijuana in November 2018. A poll taken last year revealed that around half of Utah voters supported legalizing marijuana for adults.
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