Utah

High Times CEO Stormy Simon announced she is running for political office in her home state of Utah.

A bill signed by Utah Gov. Hary Herbert (R) will allow cannabis patients to use a letter from their physician to purchase medical cannabis products until the Department of Health issues ID cards at the end of the year.

Today marks the opening of Utah’s very first medical cannabis dispensaries.

Survey results suggest that cannabis use among Utah teenagers has relatively stabled out despite multiple neighboring legalized markets, including Colorado and Nevada.

Utah lawmakers will consider a bill that would allow cannabis patients to expunge low-level cannabis offenses and clarify patient/employee rights when it comes to the state’s new medical cannabis program.

Utah health officials have announced the 14 locations that will house the state’s first medical cannabis pharmacies.

Utah lawmakers have scrapped plans to have county health departments dispense medical cannabis products and have opted for privately-run dispensaries; this brings the Utah cannabis law more in line with the voter-approved initiative that was replaced by lawmakers.

Utah lawmakers are backpedaling on their plan to have state health departments dispense medical cannabis; they are expected to pivot to privately-run dispensaries during a special legislative session next month.

Utah’s Supreme Court has sided with lawmakers and the governor in a dispute over whether officials could replace a voter-approved medical cannabis initiative with a more limited law.

Federal officials say that Utah’s medical cannabis plan — which some had worried would jeopardize the state’s federal funding — can move forward.

Utah lawmakers are planning to change the state’s medical cannabis program, which was created in the first place as a legislative replacement for the voter-approved program that lawmakers said would be untenable, as the current program conflicts too directly with federal rules.

Utah officials have announced the winners of eight medical cannabis cultivation licenses; 81 companies had applied for the state’s 10 available licenses.

In Utah, where 81 applicants are vying for just 10 available licenses, officials have delayed announcing the state’s medical cannabis cultivation license winners.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) accused the federal government this week of “lack of action and attention” on medical cannabis policies. The governor, however, originally opposed the creation of Utah’s medical cannabis industry.

Utah is set to license 10 medical cannabis cultivators; outdoor cultivators will be allowed to grow up to four acres while indoor grows are limited to 100,000 square feet.

Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food has reportedly received 164 applications for the position of “cannabis czar,” who will head cannabis regulations in the state.