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Senate passes bill merging hemp and cannabis provisions, tightening hemp THC limits
Summary
The Senate approved third substitute House Bill 54, combining hemp-product restrictions with provisions affecting cannabis pharmacies and processors. Sponsors said the bill tightens limits on hemp products with high THC derivatives, caps certain cannabis pharmacy licenses, and raises reporting requirements for regulators.
The Utah Senate on March 6 passed third substitute House Bill 54, a measure that combines changes to hemp-product regulation and several provisions affecting medical cannabis licensing and oversight. Supporters said the bill aims to curb adulterated hemp products with unexpectedly high concentrations of THC and to increase regulatory accountability for the state's cannabis system.
Sponsor (Senator) told the chamber the bill "takes 2 pieces of legislation, the hemp process in HB 54 and some cannabis issues in HB 203 and combined them into this bill" and said the hemp portion targets products sold in retail outlets that contain "higher concentrations of THC and other THC derivatives that you can get high on." The sponsor added that the measure continues and tightens the Department of Agriculture registration requirement for hemp products to keep adulterated items out of stores.
Supporters said the cannabis provisions were narrowed in committee negotiations. The bill limits the number of licensed cannabis pharmacies in the state to 17, reduces the number of closed-door pharmacy licenses from three to one, and adds a cap on processor licenses that previously had no cap, the sponsor said. The measure also increases reporting and accountability by regulatory agencies to the Legislature and clarifies that certain pharmacy licenses should be directed toward entities that are not vertically integrated with processors or growers.
Senators raised few objections on the floor. The bill was brought up for vote under suspension of rules and received a roll-call tally recorded by the clerk. The chamber announced that third substitute House Bill 54 had "received 25 yay votes, 0 nay votes, 4 being absent," and the bill will be returned to the House for further consideration.
Votes at the close of the floor action recorded supportive remarks from the sponsor emphasizing public health concerns around adulterated hemp products: "This is the kind of battle we're trying to face in this space," the sponsor said, pointing to the presence of illicit derivatives and higher THC concentrations in retail hemp items.
The bill does not change all details of current cannabis governance proposals that had been discussed in other drafts; the sponsor specifically noted that earlier ideas such as creating an ombudsman or expanding pharmacy ownership were not included in this substitute. The bill directs additional reporting and clarifications to regulatory agencies but does not itself create an ombudsman.
Third substitute House Bill 54 passed the Senate and was returned to the House for further consideration.
Ending: The legislative record shows the Senate moved the consolidated approach for hemp and cannabis reforms forward. The House will now receive the Senate's action for additional consideration and any further processing required under the interchamber rules.
