Utah parents on Friday celebrated a victory as a bill that would give their children access to the cannabis oil cleared its first legislative hurdle.
Parents, who were literally in tears, are of the view that cannabis oil can reduce their children’s seizures.
The law enforcement committee voted 8-2 to send a hemp extract bill to the Utah House floor for a vote.
The move also faced opposition from the Utah Medical Association saying that it’s a bad idea. “There are not enough clinical trials or scientific evidence to run a bill allowing the use in Utah,” Michelle McOmber said.
HB 105, sponsored by Representative Gage Froerer, R-District 8, said that the bill would allow parents to bring cannabidiol oil from states like Colorado without fear of prosecution.
Some lawmakers believe the appropriate access should come through an FDA-approved program.
Annete Maughan, head of Epilepsy Association of Utah, weighed in on the issue alleging, “We want FDA approval as well.”
“From my perspective, if you are going to pass this kind a bill in the legislature you are basically taking the role out of the FDA and the institutional review boards that do research on people,” Representative Edward Redd, R-District 9, said.
Notably, FDA programs haven’t been approved in Utah and they could take months to begin. Even then, those programs take a limited number of kids.
Contrary to this, Gage Froerer said, “We already know that a study could take anywhere from 4 to 12 years.”
“These kids don’t have 4 to 12 years. We need to give them the opportunity now,” Froerer was quick to add.
