Medical marijuana research approved in Utah

Those who wish to study the efficacy of medical marijuana in Utah now have the green light after Gov. Gary Herbert signed off on a bill Saturday that would clear the way.

Sponsored by Brad M. Daw, R-Orem, House Bill 130 is considered a major step for the state that has seen three failed medical marijuana bills in the past three years. Proponents of medical marijuana have told the media that they expect to see another medical marijuana bill later in 2018.

Meanwhile, the new research law “allows a person to possess cannabis, a cannabinoid product, and an expanded cannabinoid product” and to distribute them to patients after an institutional review board-approved study, allows their distribution by a person conducting an institutional review board-approved study under certain circumstances, and creates a Cannabinoid Product Board within Utah’s Department of Health.