| Members Present: Sen. Allen M. Christensen, Chair Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost Rep. Steve Eliason Rep. Sandra Hollins Rep. Brian S. King Rep. Karianne Lisonbee Rep. Kelly B. Miles Rep. Paul Ray Rep. Rex P. Shipp Rep. Robert M. Spendlove Rep. Norman K. Thurston | Rep. Raymond P. Ward Members Absent: Rep. Brad M. Daw, Chair Sen. David G. Buxton Rep. Stewart E. Barlow Staff Present: Mr. Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst Ms. Karin M. Rueff, Policy Analyst Mr. Daniel M. Cheung, Associate General Counsel Ms. Ericka A. Evans, Associate General Counsel Ms. Rikka Strong, Associate General Counsel Mr. Nathan Erickson, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the
meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Christensen called meeting to order at 11:13 a.m. |
| 1. Committee Business |
| The minutes of the August 21, 2019, meeting were not ready for approval by the committee. |
| 2. Medical Cannabis |
| Medical Cannabis Amendments |
| Summary: Medical Cannabis Amendments |
| Sen. Vickers presented draft legislation "Medical Cannabis Amendments" (2019S1-0001/004) and answered questions from the committee. |
| Richard Oborn, Director, Center for Medical Cannabis, Utah Department of Health, answered questions from the committee. |
| Sen. Vickers and Mr. Oborn continued answering questions from the committee. |
| Desiree Hennessy, Utah Patients Coalition, spoke in favor of protecting the use of medical cannabis by individuals involved in court proceedings. |
| Connor Boyack, President, Libertas Institute, addressed the use of medical cannabis by individuals involved in court proceedings. |
| Sen. Vickers continued his presentation and answered questions from the committee. |
| Dani Palmer, attorney and former drug rehabilation worker, expressed concerns about provisions of the draft legislation protecting the use of medical cannabis by individuals involved in court proceedings. |
| Justin Arriola, who works on behalf of several medical cannabis patients groups and with substance abuse harm reduction communities, indicated that cannabis is much safer to use than opioids. |
| Megan Keller, addressed the protection of parental rights in child welfare court proceedings involving parents who use medical cannabis. |
| Steven Beck, a patient, indicated he uses cannabis to treat headaches. |
| Sen.Vickers continued his presentation and answered questions from the committee. |
| Cameron Diehl, Executive Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, addressed local government issues related to the draft legislation. |
| Andrew Rigby, Director of Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Programs, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, addressed implementation of Utah's medical cannabis program. |
| Sen. Vickers continued his presentation and answered questions from the committee. |
| Chair Christensen invited public comment. |
| Mark Brinton, Utah Medical Association, suggested that the draft legislation be amended to allow the patient portal consulting medical provider to be a pharmacist or other medical provider, such as a physician, rather than only a pharmacist. |
| Nate Kizerian, a caregiver, recommended committee members speak with him to understand patients' needs. |
| Walter Plum, Drug Safe Utah, addressed the locating of medical dispensing pharmacies and other provisions of the draft legislation. |
| Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum, questioned the draft legislation's elimination of the state-central-fill approach to dispensing medical cannabis. |
| Justin Arriola, addressed several issues related to the draft legislation, including issues related to the patient portal. |
| Tom Paskett, Executive Director, Utah Cannabis Association, indicated the association is encouraged by some of the changes addressed by the draft legislation and noted there are many more medical cannabis issues to be addressed. He highlighted the importance of getting some of the bureaucracy out of the way in order to make cannabis available by March 1. |
| Pam Harrison, licensed clinical social worker, implored the committee to keep the state on track to meet the March 1 deadline. She also spoke in favor of the draft legislation's addition of medical cannabis couriers and expressed her hope that the cost of couriers could be kept down. |
| Tiffany Mallow, parent of two medical cannabis patients, spoke in favor of the draft legislation's patient protections and its inclusion of medical cannabis couriers, indicated that 12 medical cannabis pharmacies will not be enough, and expressed concern about the cost of medical cannabis couriers. |
| Connor Boyack responded to issues raised during public comment. |
| Sen. Vickers concluded his presentation. |
| 3. Adjourn |
| MOTION: Sen. Escamilla moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays-0 | Abs-5 | |
| Sen. A. Christensen Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. S. Hollins Rep. B. King Rep. K. Miles Rep. P. Ray Rep. R. Shipp Rep. R. Spendlove Rep. N. Thurston Sen. E. Vickers Rep. R. Ward | Rep. S. Barlow Sen. D. Buxton Rep. B. Daw Rep. S. Eliason Rep. K. Lisonbee |
| Chair Christensen adjourned the meeting at 1:22 p.m. |