Committee advances fix to keep medical-cannabis pharmacy licenses tied to regions to protect rural patients

Senator Vickers presented Senate Bill 66 on Friday as a technical but important correction to the state's medical cannabis pharmacy license rules, telling the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee that the change reinstates the legislative intent that a pharmacy license granted in a region cannot be moved to another region.

"When we originally set up the program, we established regions in the state and allowed a certain number of pharmacy licenses... we inadvertently took out that phrase that you couldn't move them," Senator Vickers said. He told the committee the licensing board had denied a request to move a license in the interim and that the bill simply reaffirms the original intent.

Dr. Forsyth, director of the medical cannabis program at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, told the committee the provision protects patients in rural communities who rely on local pharmacists for counseling and product advice, and that delivery alone is often insufficient for some patient needs.

Representative Colford moved to favorably recommend SB 66; the committee voted to pass the bill unanimously and then approved placement on the House consent calendar so the measure can move quickly with an immediate effective date if eligible. The committee did not receive public comment on the bill during the hearing.