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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Citing a number of unanswered questions, the GOP-controlled Utah Senate held off on a casting a planned Monday afternoon vote on a bill allowing those with chronic and debilitating diseases to consume edible medical marijuana products.
Saratoga Springs Republican Sen. Mark Madsen, who sponsors the measure, spent about 20 minutes explaining it to his colleagues Monday and asking for a vote.
Madsen said he was working on an amended version of his bill that addresses many concerns, such as a prohibition on advertising the product, and pushed to move the issue forward Monday with a vote. But several senators objected and said they had too many questions about the legal and medical implications that needed to be answered first.
The debate bumped up against a number of lawmakers' late afternoon meetings. Several senators instead asked that a vote be postponed until they have more information about medical marijuana bill.
A rescheduled vote could come as soon as Tuesday. But with only eight more days left in the Utah's Legislature's annual session, the delay casts doubt on whether the proposal could be passed this year.
Madsen's legislation forbids the smoking of marijuana, but it allows businesses to grow marijuana and sell pot-infused products such as brownies, candy and lozenges.
Madsen has said that if Utah can push past years of propaganda and misunderstanding surrounding the drug, it would bring compassion and freedom to those who are suffering. He also said medical pot has become a states-rights issue to push back against the federal government's overreach.
Madsen has said he began researching the issue after having back pain for years. When his doctor recently recommended a marijuana treatment, Madsen traveled to Colorado to try it through cannabis-infused gummy bears and an electronic-cigarette device.
He said he found the treatment effective. If his doctor agrees it would let him use fewer or no prescription painkillers, he'd consider taking a cannabis product again, Madsen said.
Utah's consideration of the idea comes as a growing number of states are allowing the drug. Alaska and the District of Columbia became the latest places to legalize the drug last week after several states in recent years adopted medical marijuana.
Madsen's bill only allows for indoor growing operations, with seed-to-sale tracking, testing and regulation. Patients would be issued medical marijuana cards that would serve as their prescription and as a debit card to process their payments for the drug. The proposal specifies which conditions are eligible, such as AIDS, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to a legislative analysis, the proposal would bring in about $585,000 in revenue to the state but cost about more than $8 million in the first year to get started and about $1 million in years after.
Madsen has said he's optimistic about his bill's chances in the Senate and Republican-dominated House.
On Monday, Republican House Speaker Greg Hughes said he hopes the proposal moves to the House soon so lawmakers in that chamber have enough time to hold a hearing on it before their session wraps up next week.
Hughes and Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, have said they worry the legislation could lead to recreational use.
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Online: SB 259: http://1.usa.gov/1EQPz4y
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Follow Michelle L. Price at https://twitter.com/michellelprice
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