UtahUtah would set regions for medical cannabis pharmacies
Utah would divide the state into pharmacy regions and use those regions when awarding licenses and reviewing location changes, subject to the bill's special effective-date rule.
What it does
Utah would use rulemaking to divide the state into at least four regions for medical cannabis pharmacies, with the goal of spreading access among cardholders.
The licensing board would award up to 17 pharmacy licenses using patient-access and business criteria, while generally keeping a pharmacy's location changes within its current region.
Argument forRegional planning could spread pharmacies more evenly and may improve access for more medical cannabis cardholders.
Argument againstKeeping a pharmacy inside its current region could make it harder for an existing pharmacy to move where patients need it most.
More detail
The Department of Agriculture and Food would divide Utah into at least four regions for medical cannabis pharmacy locations. The regions would cover medical cannabis pharmacies throughout Utah. The department must use rulemaking to create the regions. The regions must spread pharmacies in a way that reasonably maximizes access for the largest number of medical cannabis cardholders. This provision would take effect May 6, 2026, unless the special two-thirds approval rule makes it effective sooner or on another stated trigger.
The licensing board would limit pharmacy licenses to up to 17 and evaluate applicants using business, safety, location, patient-access, cost, and operating-plan factors. The rules would apply to applicants for Utah medical cannabis pharmacy licenses and to pharmacies seeking to change locations. The board would use the regions to spread licenses across the state. The board may give extra consideration to applicants willing to locate in federally designated medically underserved areas or provide home delivery with electronic orders. The board may not approve a pharmacy location change outside the pharmacy's current region. These provisions would take effect May 6, 2026, unless the special two-thirds approval rule makes them effective sooner or on another stated trigger.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 26Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 3Senate/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 3Senate/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Feb 20Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Feb 20Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Feb 20Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Feb 20Bill Received from Senate for EnrollingMinor
- Feb 19Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 19House/ to Senate
- Feb 19House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to SenateMajor
- Feb 19House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 19House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 17House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 17House/ comm rpt/ placed on Consent Calendar [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
- Feb 13House Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
- Feb 13House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 11House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 10House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 10Senate/ to House
- Feb 10Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 10Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 9Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 27Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Jan 27Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]Minor
- Jan 26Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]Minor
- Jan 20Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]Minor
- Jan 20Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 12Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 7Senate/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 2LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0066
- Jan 2Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 2Bill Numbered but not Distributed
- 2025
- Nov 17LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0066
- Nov 4LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0066
- Nov 4LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0066Introduced
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