A bill providing for research of the medical uses for cannabis extracts passed through a committee Thursday and will now head to the full Utah Senate for consideration.
The bills sponsor, Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, said the bills purpose is to gather enough credible research on cannabis extracts for doctors to feel comfortable prescribing it as medicine. It would allow for federally approved, institutional review boards to study the medical uses and risks of parts of the marijuana plant.
The bill is a step back from two pieces of cannabis legislation last year one of which was also co-sponsored by Daw that would have legalized cannabis for certain medical conditions.
Daw said he felt that starting off with legalization, as many other states have done, is backwards from how it ought to be handled.
The fact is, we have a solid tradition as a country of doing science first, of letting science lead the way, Daw said.
Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, questioned Daw about the availability of already-existing data.
Theres no evidence or data collected in any of those (states where its already legal) of whether this is working for them or not? Escamilla asked.
Daw said that there is evidence already available it just isnt sufficient for doctors who may not be familiar with or steeped in the research. Those who will research under this bill will not be starting from ground zero, Daw said, but will be building off of data that already exists.
The goal of the research, Daw said, is to allow doctors to know how the drug might interact with other medications and certain diseases.
What we dont really have right now is a reliable and trusted source for that data, Daw said. And we dont know if its complete.
Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, was the lone committee vote against sending the bill to the Senate. He did not support the bill, saying it gave false hope to people who needed immediate help.
This is kind of a hoax bill, Dabakis said. Its kind of a Trojan horse. This is to placate people who are suffering right now.
Several people spoke in favor of the bill, including Michelle McOmber, CEO of the Utah Medical Association.
McOmber said medical marijuana is a misnomer because it cant be medical until a physician knows what dose to give a patient and what to prescribe it for.
We dont have that information, McOmber said. So we need that kind of information. There are other studies out there, but are they scientific? Thats debatable.
The bill has already been approved by the House of Representatives, and will now be considered by the Senate.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Committee Approves Research Bill For Cannabis Extracts, Which Moves On To Senate
Author: Katie England
Contact: 573-207-9004
Photo Credit: Spenser Heaps
Website: Lake Expo
