SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 22, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The Utah Senate on Monday morning approved Senate Bill 89, the less controversial of two medical marijuana bills being considered at the Legislature.
And on Monday afternoon, the Senate it took a preliminary and non-binding vote on State Bill 73, the other bill, before deciding to schedule a third reading. The preliminary vote for SB 73 showed 15 in favor of and 13 against the more controversial bill.
Both bills are aimed at legalizing the use of medical marijuana to provide relief to patients with serious, chronic and debilitating medical conditions. One of the key differences between the bill is that SB 89 does not produce a high. SB 73 does.
Eric Hawkins, spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on Monday released another in a series of statements that advise the passage of SB 89, but not SB 73.
“In our view, the issue for the Utah Legislature is how to enable the use of marijuana extracts to help people who are suffering without increasing the likelihood of misuse at a time when drug abuse in the United States is at epidemic proportions, especially among youth,” the LDS Church statement reads, in part.
Sen. Mark Madsen (R-Saratoga Springs), sponsor of SB 73, reacted to the Church’s statement prior to the Senate ‘s continued discussion and preliminary vote on Monday.
“As I read it, I believe we can more than adequately address every topic that was brought forth here,” Madsen said.
The senator rejects the argument that making marijuana extract available by prescription will lead to an increase in drug use among young people.
“I know that any kid that wants it can get it (marijuana) at any high school within 10 or 15 minutes,” Madsen said. But the cost of producing medical-grade marijuana extract will mean the price will be very high, he said.
“The suggestion this is going to be a substitute for street weed … and the idea it leads to more abuse is questionable at best.”
Here’s more information on the bills:
Senate Bill 89, sponsored by Rep. Brad Daw (R-Orem) and Sen. Emily Vickers (R-Cedar City), advocates approving the regulated use of a marijuana extract that contains CBD.
CBD, one of more than 60 compounds found in cannabis, and is non-psychoactive, meaning it does not cause a high. The LDS Church favors this bill.
SB 89 will move on to be considered by the Utah House of Representatives.
Senate Bill 73, by Madsen, was formerly nicknamed as the “whole plant” bill, but on Friday, Madsen amended his bill to change its use of the whole plant to use of extract, in hopes of getting the bill approved.
Madsen has said he hoped to keep costs down for patients with use of the whole plant, since extracts are more costly.
Senate Bill 73 advocates approving the regulated use of a marijuana that contains both CBD and THC. THC is the compound in marijuana that gets the user high, and adds an element that many patients in chronic pain find beneficial.
Here is the full text of the LDS statement:
“In our view, the issue for the Utah Legislature is how to enable the use of marijuana extracts to help people who are suffering without increasing the likelihood of misuse at a time when drug abuse in the United States is at epidemic proportions, especially among youth. Recent changes to SB 73 are substantial improvements. We continue to urge Legislators to take into account the acknowledged need for scientific research in the matter and to fully address regulatory controls on manufacture and distribution for the health and safety of Utahns.”
Gephardt Daily will have more information on this story as it develops.
Please tell them there is no such thing as “magic CBD”. The plant must be grown before someone knows of the exact compound of CBD or THC or CBN, CBG, CBC… And so on. What is sold legally as “CBD” is hempseed or hemp paste NOT the female grown seed of the medicinal plant.
Why does anyone care what the Lds church ha to say about this? Fucking mormans.
It’s interesting that the church even has a say in it or even an opinion on the matter considering the separation of church and state. which proves that if it doesn’t benefit the church then they will slander it until they get What benefits them…. just saying it’s a joke of kids are gonna smoke it then they’re going to smoke it.
I feel like Skyler White on Breaking Bad when she starts yelling “shut up” at her sister.
I agree with legalizing the whole plant for medical use. However, those of you who continuously question the LDS church having an opinion, really need to research how a democracy works. There are a lot of Mormons in Utah. They are constituents. They have beliefs and values. They have a vote in what happens in their communities. They are going to elect representatives that mirror those values, just like anywhere else in the country. If you don’t like Mormons having a say on local laws, Utah might not be the place for you…just sayin’.