TRUCE’s linked press release reviews some of the problems with the bills (and there are more than we could fit – even with the included two page addendum).
SB211 is due for a final vote in the Senate and would then go to the House. HB130 as amended in the Senate only needs to pass the House again to be sent to the Governor.
If both pass, Utah will a) have a “Cannabinoid Product Board” staffed by doctors recommended by the UMA (which has declared it doesn’t believe cannabis medicine is real medicine), b) all “product” recommendations in both bills will have to be reviewed by UT government bodies, c) there will be 54 pages of new regulations (many debatable) and… ….d) absolutely no new availability of medicine to patients.
This “Cannabinoid Product Medicine” approach is politicized in multiple respects and lacks most of the scientific and clinical data supporting Medical Cannabis.
Representative Daw – in discussing HB130 on the House floor – proclaimed that Utah’s research institutions “feel like they can make some great progress and before we go declaring what medicine is we need to let those who are scientifically tasked with that, let them do their job.
So we’ll play legislator and let them play doctor.”
These bills as amended do anything but that.
Watch the video here: http://ift.tt/2lodAPF
We strongly urge you to read the release and contact your reps to express your opinion.
If you agree, it’s important for them to know that these bills – while purporting to be “steps in the right direction” are not what patients and caretakers have been advocating, rather, bills highly likely to substantially slow actual medical cannabis reform.
As always, we advise you to stick to substance in communicating with legislators – what you’re for, against and why. Condemning legislators’ parties, religion or ideology may momentarily feel like therapeutic venting, but does nothing to sway votes.
Reps do pay at least some attention to the volume of communication for or against bills, though. Calls carry more weight than emails, but they all help.
You can find your reps here: http://ift.tt/1lXbDGE
#MMJ #SB211 #HB130 #UTpol #GetSerious #TRUCE
http://ift.tt/2mjQ6Mw
See full article – TRUCE Press Release – SB211 Points of Concern and Addendum: “Let Doctors Play Doctor”
