The Utah Senate has passed two medical cannabis laws that propose different approaches.
SB 73, sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen (R-Saratoga Springs), gives people suffering from cancer, AIDS, epilepsy, chronic pain, and other ailments legal access to medical cannabis edibles, extracts, and oils with a doctor’s recommendation. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 17 to 12.
“I am so excited, this is such a miracle, this is all because of God,” said Utah resident Enedina Stanger. “It was a hard battle, but it was just because of the miracles and by the love of human beings that we got this through today. I’m so excited.”
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where it will face opposition. Supporters of the bill are optimistic, though, that they have the momentum to obtain the 38 votes needed to pass the bill.
The Senate also passed SB 89, which would legalize CBD extracts only.
Advocates of SB 78 say that while CBD can be effective in treating certain ailments, such as intractable seizures, it is not as effective as cannabis containing THC for other ailments.
SB 89 passed the Senate 18-8 and also heads to the House for consideration.