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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE RESCHEDULING

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OF MARIJUANA

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2016 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Brian E. Shiozawa

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House Sponsor: Brad M. Daw

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Congress to
11     reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug and encourages researchers to investigate the
12     benefits of medical marijuana.
13     Highlighted Provisions:
14          This resolution:
15          ▸     notes that marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug under the United
16     States Controlled Substances Act;
17          ▸     notes that the current classification of marijuana has led to a lack of research on the
18     potential medical benefits of marijuana;
19          ▸     urges Congress and the federal government to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II
20     drug;
21          ▸     encourages researchers to investigate the benefits of medical marijuana; and
22          ▸     encourages researchers to report their findings to the legislative interim committees
23     of Business and Labor, Economic Development, and Health and Human Services,
24     or other groups as appropriate or feasible.
25     Special Clauses:
26          None
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28     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
29          WHEREAS, marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug under the United
30     States Controlled Substances Act, which is an inappropriate classification because it impedes
31     legal research by industries and universities;
32          WHEREAS, while the use of medical marijuana is allowed in at least 23 states already
33     for numerous medical indications, marijuana use remains illegal under federal law;
34          WHEREAS, the federal government has indicated that it will not prosecute patients
35     who use medical marijuana in states where state law permits the use of medical marijuana, and
36     there is a potential change in public policy in Utah regarding this issue;
37          WHEREAS, there is a significant lack of research on medical marijuana by industries,
38     universities, and research institutions in the country, likely due in part to marijuana's
39     classification as a Schedule I drug under federal law;
40          WHEREAS, conducting research on a Schedule I drug requires a license issued by the
41     Drug Enforcement Agency;
42          WHEREAS, Utah law also classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug;
43          WHEREAS, changing the classification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II
44     under state and federal law would result in the drug being more available for research, while
45     still keeping marijuana safely regulated; and
46          WHEREAS, Utah has nationally respected research and healthcare facilities including
47     the University of Utah, USTAR, University of Utah Medical School, Huntsman Cancer
48     Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and others:
49          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
50     Governor concurring therein, urges Congress and the federal government to change the
51     classification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II.
52          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and Governor encourage research
53     institutions such as the University of Utah, USTAR, University of Utah Medical School,
54     Huntsman Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and others to collaborate on
55     determining the feasibility of a formal study of the medical benefits of marijuana.
56          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that those who determine the feasibility of a formal
57     study of the medical benefits of marijuana report their findings to the legislative interim
58     committees of Business and Labor, Economic Development, and Health and Human Services,

59     or other groups as appropriate or feasible.






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel