House approves medical cannabis amendments, sets initial dispensary licenses and patient safeguards

SALT LAKE CITY — In a joint House-Senate session Sept. 16, 2019, the Utah House voted unanimously to pass the first substitute to Senate Bill 1,002, a package of amendments intended to resolve implementation details of the state's medical cannabis program.

Representative Dau, the House sponsor, told colleagues the bill is a "step forward" that addresses timing and operational issues that must be resolved before the next general session. He said an amendment clarifies parallel language between the DCFS code and the criminal code to ensure "if somebody is using medical cannabis in a lawful manner, they can't be prosecuted and they can't have that be a consideration for taking their kids away." He added that impairment remains enforceable: "If you're impaired, doesn't matter if it's opioids or alcohol or cannabis, you can still be cited."

The bill removes the largest element of the originally contemplated state-run model: a state-owned central fill pharmacy. Dau said federal-law considerations prevented a state agency from processing payments connected to federally…