House adopts substitute to extend hemp-extract access, lowers CBD threshold and tightens research reporting

Lawmakers approved changes to Utah’s hemp-extract policy on Jan. 26, adopting a substitute and passing House Bill 58 to extend access for patients, reduce dosage concentration requirements for small children, and strengthen reporting and research provisions.

Sponsor Representative Frower described the original 2014 law and said families statewide had benefited from access to CBD oil, commonly called Charlotte’s Web. The bill extends the sunset from Feb. 2016 to Feb. 2021 and reduces the product concentration requirement from 15 percent to 5 percent for smaller children to avoid waste from unused medication.

Representative Thurston offered a first substitute after the interim committee identified gaps in reporting and research. Thurston said the substitute ‘‘clarifies that the department is actually supposed to make sure the neurologist report’’ and ‘‘creates a structure for research that is much more broad so we have much many more opportunities for people who are interested in the topic to get access to the data and do research studies.’’

Representative Dott urged support, saying the state is ‘‘treading a lot of new ground’’ and that stronger research components will help patients and practitioners learn what is effective.

The House adopted the substitute and passed the measure by a recorded voice tally of 75-0. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration; sponsors requested continued monitoring and reporting so the Legislature can evaluate outcomes ahead of the extended sunset date.