After four states legalized recreational marijuana last year and twice that many approved new medical marijuana laws, at least eleven more are considering changing their laws in 2017. Here are the states and the legislation they’re proposing: 1. Connecticut Not only are lawmakers hoping to expand Connecticut’s five-year-old medical marijuana legislation, but Martin Looney, the […]
Utah
Poll: Utahns Strongly Support Medical Marijuana Legalization but Oppose Recreational
Two-thirds of Utahns want to legalize medical marijuana prescribed by doctors, a new UtahPolicy poll finds. Expect a medical marijuana bill to be introduced in the 2017 Legislature. Such a bill failed in the 2016 general session after LDS Church leaders warned that such a measure could do more harm than good. UPD pollster Dan Jones & Associates […]
Utah Medical Marijuana Bill May End Up Going to Voters For Approval
After weeks of wrangling, a bill that was to have legalized medical marijuana in Utah was headed for a vote — and likely passage — Thursday when it got stopped dead as legislative leaders realized there was no money to implement it. The demise of the measure — narrower than a more sweeping proposal that […]
Leaders From Different Faiths Advocate For Medical Marijuana in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY – Leaders from various faiths gathered at the Utah State Capitol this week, where they called on members of the legislature to pass a law allowing patients to use medical marijuana. Anna Zumwalt, a Soto-Zen Buddhist Priest from Salt Lake City, was among those who attended. “We hope that the legislature will […]
Despite Mormon Opposition, Utah Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill
Proponents of legalizing medical marijuana cheered and exchanged tearful hugs as the Senate approved a bill Thursday that would make Utah the 24th state to adopt a medical-marijuana program, sending the bill on for consideration in the House, where it faces an uncertain future. “We have a few weeks to re-educate and change the whole […]
Medical Marijuana Bill Alive in Utah Legislature, But Mormon Church Still Has Doubts
Sen. Mark Madsen’s medical marijuana bill lives on after the Utah Senate voted 15-13 Monday afternoon to give the legislation a final hearing. After another 90 minutes of debate and discussion, Madsen tearfully asked Senate members to send the bill to a final vote, calling patients by name who could benefit from medical marijuana. “I […]
Utah Senate Passes One Medical Marijuana Bill, Considering a Second
With patients and advocates for the legalization of medical marijuana in the audience, Utah senators gave preliminary approval Friday to an incremental step to deal with cannabis, while a more sweeping bill that appeared in jeopardy may have been given new life. Senators backed SB89 sponsored by Sen. Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City, that would allow […]
Utah’s Medical Marijuana Proponents Change Gears, Will Push Ballot Initative
Conceding the Utah Legislature is unlikely to pass a bill legalizing medical marijuana, Utah patients who have been using the plant along with backers of legal cannabis — including several wealthy and well-connected Utah businessmen — plan to launch a ballot initiative that would let voters decide whether to make Utah the 24th state to […]
Mormon Church Opposition Changes at Least One Utah Medical Marijuana Vote
At least one and possibly two senators have abandoned their support of a medical-marijuana bill pending in the Utah Legislature after the LDS Church issued a statement opposing the measure. The measure’s sponsor, Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs, said his colleagues’ change of heart is a blow to his effort to make Utah the 24th […]
Highly Restrictive Medical Marijuana Plans Get OK From Utah Lawmakers
Salt Lake City — The more restrictive of Utah’s two medical marijuana proposals has won early approval from state lawmakers. A Utah Senate health committee unanimously approved the bill Thursday afternoon. It now moves to the full Senate, where lawmakers will likely be considering a much broader marijuana plan at the same time. The more […]
