Elections can hold significant consequences when it comes to the future of marijuana policy. In 2016 voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada approved ballot initiatives legalizing adult marijuana use. While voters in Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota elected to either legalize or expand medical cannabis access. The outcome of the 2018 midterm elections will be […]
Utah
Utah’s governor to call special session on ‘compromise’ medical marijuana, despite public vote on Prop. 2
SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Gary Herbert announced he will call the Utah State Legislature into special session to pass a “compromise” bill on medical marijuana. Supporters and opponents of Proposition 2 stood side-by-side to endorse the bill, which will be run through the legislature regardless of how the public votes on the citizen referendum. […]
Utah Officials Give Green Light For Industrial Hemp Production
Utah Farmers now have the rules and regulations in place to grow industrial hemp. Lawmakers in this year’s legislative session passed two bills giving the Department of Agriculture and Food the task of organizing an industrial hemp program for local producers. Three years ago the farm bill allowed pilot programs to grow industrial hemp for […]
Salt Lake City Radio Station Pulls Anti-Marijuana Ads After Complaints
At least one Salt Lake City-area radio station has stopped airing an advertisement opposing Utah’s Proposition 2 after complaints that the spot included false and misleading statements about medical marijuana. Kayvon Motiee, president of Broadway Media, said the ad by the Drug Safe Utah coalition is no longer airing on 101.5 The Eagle (KEGA), the […]
Mormon Church Opposes Utah Medical Marijuana Initiative But Open To Medical Use With Doctor Supervision
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints formally joined the opposition to Utah’s medical marijuana initiative Thursday, adding a powerful voice to a list of opponents that also included dozens of other groups and public figures. But Elder Jack N. Gerard, a general authority Seventy, said the Utah-based faith isn’t opposed to medical marijuana if […]
New Poll Shows over 75 Percent of Utahns Support Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative
Amanda Ellis-Graham’s multiple sclerosis was once so bad she could barely hold a pencil. She suffered from vision and hearing problems. Walking was nearly impossible because of terrible vertigo. Numbness and a sensation of pins and needles slowly spread through her body. Ellis-Graham, now 37, was 18 when she was diagnosed with MS, a debilitating […]
These 11 States May Change Their Marijuana Laws in 2017
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 […]
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 […]
Most Utah Residents Support Legalizing Medical Marijuana
More than three out of five Utahns want to see medicinal marijuana legalized in the state, but obstacles and opposition remain as the 2016 Legislature considers making Utah the 24th state to implement such a program. Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday he supports the “concept” of medical marijuana and believes it makes sense to most […]
Utah Panel Endorses Expanded Use of Marijuana Oil
A proposal to allow Utah residents to use oil extracted from marijuana to treat more diseases, including cancer and HIV, received an early vote of support Wednesday from some state lawmakers. The measure also would allow the oil to be produced and distributed in Utah. The state currently lets only those with severe epilepsy who […]
