SALT LAKE CITY (AP) —
The Latest on a medical-marijuana special session of the Utah Legislature (all times local):
2 p.m.
The Utah House of Representatives has passed a compromise plan to legalize medical marijuana despite concerns that the regulations make it too hard for patients to access the drug.
The Monday vote came after about two hours of debate. It now goes to the Utah Senate, where it is also expected to pass.
The changes include blocking marijuana edibles like cookies, preventing people from growing their own marijuana and narrowing the list of eligible medical conditions.
The plan was sponsored by Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes after a negotiation process that included the influential Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Hughes says the compromise improves upon the language approved by keeping marijuana from being used recreationally or by children.
Democratic critics of the compromise proposed keeping the language approved by the voters, but Republicans in the Utah House voted down the idea.
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1:03 p.m.
Utah lawmakers have voted down a Democratic effort to keep intact a voter-approved plan to legalize medical marijuana in favor or a compromise bill.
Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck asked fellow lawmakers on Monday to “stay in our lane” and keep the original proposal rather than make changes under the agreement between some medical marijuana advocates and state lawmakers.
Her proposal lost in a lopsided Monday vote in the Republican-dominated Utah House of Representatives.
Republican outgoing House Speaker Greg Hughes argued the compromise is an improvement on the original plan, and came after a healthy negotiation process.
Many advocates, though, say the compromise creates nearly insurmountable obstacles for patients seeking access to the drug and are vowing to sue.
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11:35 a.m.
Utah lawmakers are expected to meet Monday and pass changes to a voter-approved ballot measure legalizing medical marijuana, a plan that was announced as a broad compromise but has since generated backlash.
The plan creates “massive obstacles” by cutting the number of medical professionals who can approve use of the drug, the kinds of conditions that can be treated with it and the number of places people can get it, said Rocky Anderson, an attorney representing medical-marijuana advocates.
“It’s an almost complete disregard for the will of the people once they’ve spoken through the initiative process,” Anderson said.
Supporters of the compromise, including the influential Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, say it will still give access to suffering patients while ensuring marijuana stays out of the hands of children and blocking any possibility of broader legalization.
The compromise was announced before Election Day, and was backed by some medical-marijuana advocates. They argue that state law allows the Legislature to change the language of laws passed by voters at any time, so it was better to be at the negotiating table with opponents of the measure rather than endure a prolonged legal fight.
Despite an opposition effort by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the original legalization measure passed with 53 percent of the vote.
The compromise plan changes the language blocking some marijuana edibles such as cookies, which might appeal to children. It also won’t allow people to grow their own marijuana if they live too far from a dispensary.
Smoking marijuana isn’t allowed in the original and won’t be allowed in the new version.
Anderson, a former Salt Lake City mayor and attorney representing Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education, or TRUCE, and the Epilepsy Association of Utah, has said the faith is exerting its power to push through significant changes to the proposition. The groups have said they’re considering a lawsuit.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints stands behind the work it did to help craft a compromise it considers a “safer” medical marijuana program.
The religion opposed the ballot proposal over fears it could lead to broader use of marijuana. However, as the proposal seemed to gain support, the church agreed to the pre-election deal to allow access for people with serious medical needs.
Members of the faith have long frowned upon marijuana use because of a key church health code called the “Word of Wisdom,” which prohibits the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs.
About two-thirds of the state’s residents belong to the religion and the majority of state and federal lawmakers are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
