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3
4
5
6
7 Cosponsors:
8 J. Stuart Adams
9 Curtis S. Bramble
10 Allen M. Christensen
11 Jim Dabakis
12 Gene Davis
13 Margaret Dayton
14 Luz Escamilla
15 Lincoln Fillmore
16 Wayne A. Harper
Deidre M. Henderson
Lyle W. Hillyard
David P. Hinkins
Jani Iwamoto
Alvin B. Jackson
Scott K. Jenkins
Peter C. Knudson
Mark B. Madsen
Karen Mayne
Ann Millner
Wayne L. Niederhauser
Ralph Okerlund
Howard A. Stephenson
Jerry W. Stevenson
Daniel W. Thatcher
Stephen H. Urquhart
Kevin T. Van Tassell
Evan J. Vickers
Todd Weiler
17
18 LONG TITLE
19 General Description:
20 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Congress to
21 reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug and encourages researchers to investigate the
22 benefits of medical marijuana.
23 Highlighted Provisions:
24 This resolution:
25 ▸ notes that marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug under the United
26 States Controlled Substances Act;
27 ▸ notes that the current classification of marijuana has led to a lack of research on the
28 potential medical benefits of marijuana;
29 ▸ urges Congress and the federal government to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II
30 drug;
31 ▸ encourages researchers to investigate the benefits of medical marijuana; and
32 ▸ encourages researchers to report their findings to the legislative interim committees
33 of Business and Labor, Economic Development, and Health and Human Services,
34 or other groups as appropriate or feasible.
35 Special Clauses:
36 None
37
38 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
39 WHEREAS, marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug under the United
40 States Controlled Substances Act, which is an inappropriate classification because it impedes
41 legal research by industries and universities;
42 WHEREAS, while the use of medical marijuana is allowed in at least 23 states already
43 for numerous medical indications, marijuana use remains illegal under federal law;
44 WHEREAS, the federal government has indicated that it will not prosecute patients
45 who use medical marijuana in states where state law permits the use of medical marijuana, and
46 there is a potential change in public policy in Utah regarding this issue;
47 WHEREAS, there is a significant lack of research on medical marijuana by industries,
48 universities, and research institutions in the country, likely due in part to marijuana's
49 classification as a Schedule I drug under federal law;
50 WHEREAS, conducting research on a Schedule I drug requires a license issued by the
51 Drug Enforcement Agency;
52 WHEREAS, Utah law also classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug;
53 WHEREAS, changing the classification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II
54 under state and federal law would result in the drug being more available for research, while
55 still keeping marijuana safely regulated; and
56 WHEREAS, Utah has nationally respected research and healthcare facilities including
57 the University of Utah, USTAR, University of Utah Medical School, Huntsman Cancer
58 Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and others:
59 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
60 Governor concurring therein, urges Congress and the federal government to change the
61 classification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II.
62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and Governor encourage research
63 institutions such as the University of Utah, USTAR, University of Utah Medical School,
64 Huntsman Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and others to collaborate on
65 determining the feasibility of a formal study of the medical benefits of marijuana.
66 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that those who determine the feasibility of a formal
67 study of the medical benefits of marijuana report their findings to the legislative interim
68 committees of Business and Labor, Economic Development, and Health and Human Services,
69 or other groups as appropriate or feasible.