MINUTES OF THE
MEDICAL CANNABIS GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE WORKING GROUP
Monday, June 12, 2023 • 4:00 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Evan J. Vickers, Chair
Rep. Walt Brooks, Chair
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Derrin R. Owens
Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost
Rep. Raymond P. Ward

Staff Present:
Seth Anderson, Policy Analyst
Christopher Williams, Associate General Counsel
Tracey Fredman, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
1.Committee Business
Sen. Vickers called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Ward moved to approve the minutes of the October 17, 2022, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. J. Dailey-Provost
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
Rep. R. Ward
Sen. L. Escamilla
2.Medical Cannabis Home Delivery
Rep. Brooks discussed medical cannabis home delivery and possible benefits of a system that matches current traditional pharmacy home delivery programs.
Richard Oborn, Director, Center for Medical Cannabis, Department of Health and Human Services, explained that current statute requires an on-site pharmacist to be available for consultations at all times when medical cannabis is being sold.
Brandon Forsyth, Director, Medical Cannabis Program, Department of Agriculture and Food, noted that home delivery of medical cannabis would require regulatory agencies to perform inspections of facilities.
Richard Oborn and Brandon Forsyth responded to committee members' questions during the discussion that followed.
Public comment was heard from:
Alyssa Smailes, Executive Director, Utah Cannabis Association;
Steve Brewster, Beehive Farmacy;
Bijan Sakaki, Beehive Farmacy;
Greg Hartley, representing Zion Medicinal;
Chris Jeffery, WholesomeCo Cannabis;
Nanette Berezhnyy, newly appointed member of the Medical Cannabis Policy Advisory Board; and
J.D. Lauritzen, Legal Compliance and Government Affairs, WholesomeCo Cannabis.
3.Medical Cannabis Program Licensing Fees
3.1 Medical Cannabis Establishment Licensing and Patient Fees (Source: OLRGC)
3.2 Medical Cannabis Fee Revenue (Source: OLFA)
Seth Anderson, Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, provided an overview of medical cannabis establishment licensing, patient fees, and medical cannabis fee revenue.
Richard Oborn, Director, Center for Medical Cannabis, Department of Health and Human Services, responded to committee members' questions about the data presented on medical cannabis fee revenue.
Brandon Forsyth, Director, Medical Cannabis Program, Department of Agriculture and Food, commented on the inevitable increase in budget that will be needed in the coming years and responded to committee members' questions.
Public comment was received from Scott Erickson, Executive Director, Utah Cannabis Co-Op, about license fees.
4.Medical Cannabis Business Tax Credits
Sen. Vickers indicated that a bill file has been opened to address medical cannabis business tax credits, similar to 2023 General Session S.B. 278, "Cannabis Business Tax Credit Amendments."
Steve Brewster, Beehive Farmacy, reviewed background to the proposed legislation and responded to committee members' questions.
5.Status of THC Analogs
Brandon Forsyth, Director, Medical Cannabis Program, Department of Agriculture and Food, discussed the current regulatory system for delta-8-THC and other THC analogs.
6.Adjourn
Rep. Ward moved to adjourn the meeting.
Chair Vickers adjourned the meeting at 6:03 p.m.