By The University of Utah recently confirmed that it is beginning early planning stages for building a medical cannabis research center. House Bill 230passed the House and Senate and was signed by Utah Governor Spencer Cox on March 15.
HB-230 expands the state’s ability to conduct research and provide scientifically-backed information, according to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jennifer Daly Provost.Specifically, in connection with the opening of the Medical Cannabis Research Center at the University of Kentucky. September 2022The Daily Provost believes it’s time for Utah to do the same. Daily Utah Chronicle.
She added that in the past, the Utah legislature listened to surveys conducted from outside the state rather than conducting its own surveys from within the state. I heard from [cannabis] Because they don’t feel they have enough information to confidently recommend this as part of a comprehensive health care plan.
The main goal of the Utah-based Center for Medical Cannabis Research is to become a hub for overseeing all research taking place in the state, and to “identify gaps in patient accessibility and support researchers. Then we go out and find evidence and talk to other states about what work is being done.”
Ultimately, the Daily Provost also wants the state to have a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-approved medical cannabis cultivation site. “There are only six places in the country that grow medical-grade cannabis that are eligible for NIH-funded research,” she said. There may be a central opportunity to meet the needs of the research being conducted at the National Institutes of Health.”
The passage of HB-230 also includes $650,000 in funding from the Department of Health’s Qualified Patient Enterprise Fund to the Center for Medical Cannabis Research. According to Dr. Rachel Hess, associate vice president of the University of Utah, they want to do everything they can to usher in this new era of medical cannabis research. “Obviously you can’t do it all in one year, but the legislature is really doing a longitudinal effort to make sure the science is ready … in the first year and then , and subsequent staging is an important step … so that we can truly deliver on the promise of this vision.” said Hess.
More importantly, medical cannabis research centers offer research opportunities to other universities. “I think it will be very important to communicate with all agencies across Utah about this Congressional-sponsored work and bring their communities together to form collaborations to move this work forward. ” Hess added.
The Medical Cannabis Research Center’s plans for this year begin with a focus on future research initiatives. The second year is an opportunity for researchers to start planning ahead. Ultimately, Hess concluded that he was very proud of this new opportunity. “We really feel that Utah can lead in many ways in this space, and we are really proud of the positive nature of creating something like this.” she said.
While medical cannabis takes on new journeys in university research centers, psilocybin also plays a central role. Last month, a psilocybin mushroom bill was introduced in Utah. This emulates regulations similar to state medical cannabis programs. This allows psilocybin therapy to become legal for patients with eligible conditions. If it’s for people who are desperate, unfortunately so many people are suicidal.I hope it’s accessible in a safe way.We can regulate it,” a majority of the Senate said. Party leader Luz Escamilla said.
