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Utah Bill Signed By Gov. Allows Cannabinoid Research

Utah Bill Signed By Gov. Allows Cannabinoid Research

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert was apparently very busy on Saturday. Signing nearly 465 pieces of legislation since the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, Gov. Herbert put his signature on another 49 bills over the weekend – including one that expands state-sanctioned research on medicinal cannabis.

Sponsored by Rep. Brad M. Daw (R) and Sen. Evan J. Vickers (R), H.B. 130 authorizes scientific research on the cannabis plant and all of its compounds for medicinal applications in the Beehive State. Known as the Cannabinoid Research Act, the bill anticipates the state will legalize medical marijuana (at some point) and proactively establishes a new committee for studying potential medical marijuana policy recommendations.

What Will Utah’s Cannabinoid Research Act Accomplish?

Enacting provisions relating to the research of cannabis and cannabinoid products, H.B. 130 will allow “a person to possess cannabis, a cannabinoid product, and an expanded cannabinoid product, and to distribute the cannabis to a patient pursuant to an institutional review or board approved study.”

Also allowing researchers conducting board approved studies to import cannabis and cannabinoid-based products across state lines, HB 130 will establish a “Cannabinoid Product Board” within Utah’s Dept. of Health. The Cannabinoid Product Board will be comprised of “three medical research professionals and four physicians.” Tasked with “reviewing any available research related to the human use of cannabinoid products, including any research conducted or approved by the federal government,” each board member shall serve a four-year term.

Wake Up and Smell the Medicine

Frustrated with the state’s regressive MMJ policy, medical marijuana advocates have grown tired of waiting for policymakers to catch up with the existing science. After consistently rejecting medicinal cannabis legislation over the past three legislative sessions, individuals like Christine Stenquist of Together for Reasonable Use of Cannabis Education (TRUCE) are putting Utah’s policymakers on notice.

Attempting to cultivate a ballot initiative to legalize medicinal marijuana for Utah in 2018, Stenquist noted, “we are really, honestly answering a demand.” Christine explained, “The legislators have failed so the people are taking this up. This is a movement by the people, for the people, without a doubt.”

Credit : marijuana.com

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