53H-4-206. Center for Medical Cannabis Research.

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 10/14/2025

(1)As used in this section:

(a)"Academic research cannabis license" means the license described in Title 4, Chapter 41a, Part 9 , Academic Medical Cannabis Research.

(b)"Cannabis" means the same as that term is defined in Section 26B-4-201 .

(c)"Cannabis cultivation facility" means the same as that term is defined in Section 4-41a-102 .

(d)"Cannabis product" means the same as that term is defined in Section 26B-4-201 .

(e)"Center" means the Center for the Medical Cannabis Research created in this section.

(f)"Eligible institution" means an institution of higher education that:

(i)is located in Utah; and

(ii)has or will obtain an academic research cannabis license.

(g)"Medical cannabis patient card" means the same as that term is defined in Section 26B-4-201 .

(2)There is created the Center for Medical Cannabis Research within the University of Utah.

(3)The center:

(a)shall seek state, federal, and private funds to award grants for medical cannabis research;

(b)shall facilitate and support funding for research related to the health effects, including the potential risks or side effects, of the use of cannabis products;

(c)shall facilitate and support funding for research related to the efficacy and potential health effects of various cannabis delivery methods, including vaporizing, ingesting, topical application, and combustion;

(d)shall support researchers in applying for and securing federal and private research grant funding for expanding medical cannabis research;

(e)shall review current and future cannabis research literature, clinical studies, and clinical trials;

(f)shall educate medical providers, lawmakers, and the public about medical cannabis research advances;

(g)shall, if requested, consult with researchers and eligible institutions seeking to conduct medical cannabis research regarding legal implications of the research under state and federal law;

(h)shall monitor, to the extent that appropriate and sufficient data are available, patient outcomes in any state with a medicinal cannabis program;

(i)may coordinate, share knowledge, and share best practices with a state:

(i)that has a medical cannabis program; and

(ii)is conducting cannabis research;

(j)may award or facilitate funding for grants to an eligible institution for medical cannabis research, including research regarding the growing of a medical-grade cannabis plant that is used for a cannabis product;

(k)shall support a licensed cannabis cultivation facility to provide medical-grade cannabis products for research;

(l)shall make, for research conducted by the center, the research outcomes publicly available;

(m)shall maintain a catalog of all published scientific reports based on projects funded or managed by the center;

(n)shall ensure that an individual who agrees to use a cannabis product as part of a research project conducted by the center or a grantee has:

(i)a valid medical cannabis patient card from the state; or

(ii)if included in the research project as a resident of another state, the equivalent of a medical cannabis patient card under the laws of another state, district, territory, commonwealth, or insular possession of the United States;

(o)shall obtain an academic research cannabis license;

(p)may apply for, or assist an eligible institution to apply for, a federal cannabis cultivation registration to locate a cannabis cultivation site in Utah; and

(q)for the report described in Section 26B-4-222 , shall provide information to the Department of Health and Human Services describing:

(i)all research projects that are funded by a grant awarded by the center, including which institution received the grant;

(ii)all research projects conducted by the center; and

(iii)the adequacy of funding for the center's duties.

(4)For research funded, conducted, or facilitated by the center, the center shall ensure the research:

(a)includes appropriate research development, testing, and evaluation; and

(b)if the research involves human subjects, is reviewed, approved, and overseen by an institutional review board as defined in Section 26B-4-212 .

(5)The University of Utah shall provide staff for the center.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 8 , 2025 Special Session 1