SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Lawmakers voted in a special legislative session on Monday to replace the state’s voter-initiated medical cannabis access program.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert signed the bill, House Bill 3001, into law that same day. The new law, the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, takes immediate effect.
The former law, Proposition 2, was approved by 53 percent of voters on November 6.
Legislators announced in October their intent to rewrite the legislation, prior to its passage, after meetings with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – who opposed the bill – and other groups, including some backers of the original bill.
However, other proponents of Proposition 2, including the group TRUCE (Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education), have announced their intent to file a lawsuit in response to lawmakers’ decision to amend the law.
The replacement legislation significantly differs from the language that was approved by the voters. It eliminates patients’ option to home cultivate cannabis, it prohibits the dispensing of either processed flower or edible cannabis products (oils, capsules, or topicals are permitted), it narrows the list of qualifying conditions, and it significantly reduces the total number of permissible state-licensed dispensaries, among other changes.
Members of the House voted 60 to 13 in favor of the new language. Members of the Senate voted 22 to 4. The bill required two-thirds support from both chambers in order to become law.
The vote to rewrite the voter-initiated law broke down largely along party lines, with Republican lawmakers deciding in favor of the change and Democratic members largely voting ‘present.’
An alternative measure backed by members of the Democratic Caucus that sought to make only minor administrative changes to the initiative was defeated.
Tags: Election 2018, Gary Herbert, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Utah Medical Cannabis Act, Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education, UT HB 3001, Utah, Utah medical marijuana, Utah Patients Coalition
