9th Sept 2019
Gayle Ruzicka is positive that if only the 2018 Proposition 2 opponents had not given up with their campaign and instead of accepted a ceasefire that was informal a month prior to the election, the medical marijuana initiative would have been defeated. On Monday Ruzicka, who is the Utah Edge Forum president, said that they had a huge ad campaign that was set to go. He is positive that winning was inevitable. State leaders coerced other Drugs Safe Utah coalition members including Ruzicka, to leave their legislative stand efforts that was compromising what the state wanted. This led to the statute change of Proposition 2.
However, legislators will vote on Utah’s medical marijuana law amendments next week, a centralized system and distribution state-run. This law will have converted the country health department into cannabis pharmacies and reduce the role of private dispensaries of making drugs accessible to patients. Ruzicka said that he hates the law and further noted that the state ought to keep the commitment agreed upon in the compromise.
On Monday, a group of lawmakers met to talk about the proposed legislation that will be further on Sept. 16 during a special session in the House. Sen. Evan Vickers who is the sponsor of the Bill, said that the basic motivation behind the tweaks ensured that all the qualifying patients in Utah get access to medical cannabis. However, the concept introduced by central-fill pharmacy proved not to be practical. The Senate majority leader and a professional pharmacist Vickers further said that the truth is that the state is dealing with something which is illegal.
Some of the proposed changes include a statewide increase in private dispensary permits from seven to twelve and provide a home delivery option which will increase rural areas product access. Nonetheless, Walter J. Plumb 111 who is a real estate developer, objected the home delivery proposal. Walter in 2018, donated a lot of money to the anti-cannabis campaigners. The real estate developer further asked if the state wants to make cannabis easily accessible questioning its purpose.
Plumb further told the lawmakers that despite Proposition 2 having a statewide majority outlook, majority of Utah’s counties would not benefit from it. The results were changed by the Strong Salt Lake County support. He suggested that other state areas should be left out of the medical marijuana program.
