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SALT LAKE CITY — Though it raised serious questions, the Utah Senate narrowly endorsed a bill Tuesday that would legalize marijuana for medicinal use.
Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs, touted SB259 as a measure for "freedom and compassion" during a late-evening Senate debate. He called medical cannabis a less toxic alternative to addictive opioids and said it would save lives.
Madsen had to withstand a barrage of body blows from his colleagues before they passed the bill 16-13 in a preliminary vote. It will be up for a final vote later this week.
Some senators said they sympathize with people who suffer from illnesses that marijuana might ease, but making it legal is too big of a policy change for the state.
"I can't really believe were even discussing this in Utah," said Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden.
He argued that the proposed controls on medical marijuana use would never be adequate.
"If we try to help the few, we will curse the many," Christensen said. "Children will use their parents' medicine."
SB259 would legalize medicinal marijuana use and production in Utah. The bill identifies at least nine qualifying illnesses where cannabis might provide relief, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, glaucoma, Chron's disease, multiple sclerosis or chronic pain.
Madsen said the bill doesn't force anyone to do anything but would give a "small increment of regulated freedom" to willing doctors and patients to use cannabis as a treatment.
Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Wood Cross, accused Madsen of hiding the bill and trying to rush it through. He also pointed out that legislative lawyers say the bill is unconstitutional and the Utah Department of Public Safety would be "deeply involved in a bill that is breaking the law."
"If that doesn’t bother everyone in this chamber, then there's something wrong," Weiler said.
Madsen said he resented Weiler's assertion that he kept the bill secret. He maintains the public safety department would only be charged with administering a database to register and track medical cannabis card holders.
He said he's never been prouder to have constitutional note on a bill because Utah would join with 23 other states that allow medical marijuana in telling the federal government that they will control their own health care.
Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, talked about her husband, the late state Sen. Eddie Mayne who died of cancer. His doctor brought up medical marijuana, but he decided not to try it.
Seven years later, Mayne said, people need to be enlightened about its use. Lots of drugs come from plants, and cannabis is a plant, she said.
"Maybe we need to rethink this," Mayne said. "I don't what know the result is, but we need to have a conversation."
