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SALT LAKE CITY — An anticipated debate on medical marijuana fizzled in the Utah Senate on Monday when the bill sponsor's fast-talking pitch left little time for questions from his colleagues.
Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs, used up nearly all the allotted 30-minute debate period before asking for a vote on SB259. Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, strongly objected and Madsen withdrew his motion.
The Senate could pick up the discussion again Tuesday. Madsen said he intends to make changes before bringing it back.
Meantime, a poll released Monday shows strong support in Utah for medicinal marijuana use.
The survey conducted for Libertas Institute and the Drug Policy Project of Utah showed 72 percent of likely Utah voters believe certain doctors should be able to recommend medical cannabis to their patients with serious conditions.
Support for medical marijuana was consistent across every demographic group, including 66 percent of Republicans, 67 percent of self-described LDS or Mormon respondents, and 64 percent of respondents over age 65, according to the poll.
The Y2 Analytics poll of 400 likely voters was conducted Feb. 26-28 and has a plus or minus 4.9 percent margin of error. The polling firm is partnership among longtime GOP campaign strategist Dave Hansen and BYU political science professors Quin Monson and Kelly Patterson.
Following Monday's Senate discussion, veteran Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, questioned Madsen's approach to rushing the bill through. Hillyard said the issue deserves open debate on the Senate floor and in committee meetings. He said it would best be studied over the summer.
Connor Boyack, president of Libertas Institute, said medicinal cannabis would save lives.
"It can't wait a year. It can't wait for the federal government. It can't wait for FDA approved studies. It needs to happen now," Boyack said.
Madsen went through a long explanation of his bill at a rapid pace Monday. Sen. Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City, was the only senator who managed to ask him questions, though many others wanted to weigh in.
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, muscle spasms or seizures, and severe nausea or 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.
"This is not where four states have gone to total decriminalization," said Madsen, who drove to Colorado last month to try cannabis tinctures and candies for his persistent back problems.
Recreational use is a concern, but it goes on and will continue to go regardless of whether the legislation passes, he said.
"This bill is designed to help those who are law abiding but who need this medical assistance," Madsen said.
He touted cannabis as an alternative to potentially addicting opioid regimens.
Utah, Madsen said, has a problem with opioid prescriptions and overdoses. He said 21 Utahns have died of an overdose since the legislative session started in late January. He said his bill could have saved six of them.
Vickers, a pharmacist, wanted to know how the law would prevent "dispensary shopping," which would be akin to doctor or pharmacy shopping. He said the average medical marijuana card holder is a 32-year-old white male with no history of medical problems.
He also raised questions about zoning for medical cannabis facilities, state inspections and the possibility of doctors owning dispensaries.
Madsen said he intends to address those issues in the next version of his bill, as well as the projected $8 million implementation cost.
The bill might be a hard sell in the House.
Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said his wife's 92-year-old grandmother lobbied him hard in favor of the bill over the weekend. But he said he's hesitant because there are many questions about regulation and what would be considered medicinal use.
"It's a tough issue for me to dive into. It feels more political than it does about medicine," Hughes said.
Majority Whip Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, said he too has had friends approach him about supporting the bill. He said it "opened his mind" to their situations.
"I'm not a blanket no," he said.
Still, Gibson has questions. He said there's a fine line to determining who needs medical marijuana.
"Where that definition comes, I don't know," he said. Email: romboy@deseretnews.com Twitter: dennisromboy
