Some rare good news out of the Utah Legislature this session concerns the resurrection of a bill that would make some minor improvements to the state’s medical cannabis rules.
HB203, sponsored by Salt Lake City Democratic Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost, was approved by a large, bipartisan margin in the House weeks ago, but was then consigned to legislative purgatory in a Senate committee.
The measure would basically allow two more legal cannabis-dispensing pharmacies, up from the current 15, which is much less than the 25 additional outlets advocates were seeking. It would also give more oversight power to state officials to ban batches tainted by toxic substances and otherwise police providers.
The bill had been rolling toward approval before conservative pressure groups, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Eagle Forum objected. But sponsors didn’t give up and the diluted bill has, finally, passed the relevant Senate committee and won the support of key lawmakers, including Senate President Stuart Adams.
It deserves to become law.
