Utah

Utah’s Supreme Court has sided with lawmakers and the governor in a dispute over whether officials could replace a voter-approved medical cannabis initiative with a more limited law.

Federal officials say that Utah’s medical cannabis plan — which some had worried would jeopardize the state’s federal funding — can move forward.

Utah lawmakers are planning to change the state’s medical cannabis program, which was created in the first place as a legislative replacement for the voter-approved program that lawmakers said would be untenable, as the current program conflicts too directly with federal rules.

Utah officials have announced the winners of eight medical cannabis cultivation licenses; 81 companies had applied for the state’s 10 available licenses.

In Utah, where 81 applicants are vying for just 10 available licenses, officials have delayed announcing the state’s medical cannabis cultivation license winners.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) accused the federal government this week of “lack of action and attention” on medical cannabis policies. The governor, however, originally opposed the creation of Utah’s medical cannabis industry.

Utah is set to license 10 medical cannabis cultivators; outdoor cultivators will be allowed to grow up to four acres while indoor grows are limited to 100,000 square feet.

Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food has reportedly received 164 applications for the position of “cannabis czar,” who will head cannabis regulations in the state.