Bill Summary for Bill Number SB14-155

Date: 05/01/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-155

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE, & ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-155 to the Committee on Appro	PASS

01:41 PM -- SB 14-155

Representative Duran and Representative May presented Senate Bill 14-155. The bill creates a grant program to fund scientific research on the use of marijuana, its component parts, and industrial hemp, as a part of medical treatment and establishes the Health Research Subaccount of the Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund. The Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE) has continuous spending authority over the subaccount and may transfer up to $10 million from the Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund to the subaccount between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2019, depending on the cost of approved health research projects.

The DPHE will receive a transfer of $200,000 per fiscal year from the $10 million for the administration of the grant program. The grant program may solicit, apply for, and accept moneys from foundations, private individuals, and all other funding sources to expand the scope or timeframe of authorized medical marijuana studies. While the grant program is in effect, the alternative target reserve for the Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund will be 16.5 percent of the amount in the fund excluding the $10 million for this bill.

The State Board of Health (board) will establish rules for the administration of the program based on criteria specified in the bill. The executive director of the DPHE will appoint a scientific advisory council of at least six, but no more than twelve, members to provide policy guidance and scientific oversight and review. The chief medical officer of the DPHE will serve as chair of the council and members will be reimbursed for their travel expenses. The council will make recommendations for grant recipients, amounts, and duration to the DPHE and the board. The board has the authority to approve or disapprove grant recommendations. A grant award can not exceed three years without renewal.

By January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the grant program will report to the board on the progress of the medical marijuana studies and address what diseases or conditions are being studied, the number of patients enrolled, and any scientifically valid preliminary findings.

The attorney general is required to seek authority from the federal government to permit Colorado institutions of higher education to contract with the National Institute of Drug Abuse to cultivate marijuana for use in research studies funded by the grant program.

01:42 PM

Representative May distributed a letter of support from National Jewish Health (Attachment A). Representative Duran responded to questions about whether the grant program would be eligible for federal grant funds. Representative May responded to questions about whether the federal government will allow the state to conduct marijuana research. Representative May discussed how the Colorado Constitution limits the use of the money in the Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund. Representative Duran responded to questions about which studies will be funded.

140501 AttachA.pdf

01:48 PM -- Chris Chiari, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He discussed having melanoma and the need for medical marijuana research.

01:50 PM -- Teri Robnett, representing the Cannabis Patients Alliance, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the funded studies should look at the benefits of medical marijuana and that priority for funding should be given to Colorado and United States institutions. She stated that she appreciates that there is a patient representative on the advisory council. Ms. Robnett responded to questions about the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana and which diseases are frequently treated with medical marijuana.

01:57 PM -- Heidi Baskfield, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the need for further research of cannabinoids.

01:58 PM -- Dr. Mike Van Dyke, representing DPHE, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill is a responsible use of the money in the Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund to benefit medical marijuana patients. He stated the research will help the board make decisions about whether to add certain medical conditions to the medical marijuana treatment list.

02:00 PM -- Robert Chase, representing the Colorado Coalition for Patients and Caregivers, testified against the bill. He discussed Colorado's constitutional provisions concerning medical marijuana. Mr. Chase stated that cannabinoids should be studied. He expressed his concerns about the DPHE administration of the Medical Marijuana Program. Mr. Chase responded to questions about whether he has concerns about the studies that will be conducted under the bill. He stated he is afraid the money will be misspent and continued to discuss the DPHE. Representative Landgraf commented on the bill. Representative May discussed the role of the board in the grant process.

02:18 PM -- Greg Duran, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He discussed his experience with vertigo.

02:21 PM

Representative Duran and Representative May responded to questions about the bill. The committee discussed the bill. Representative May made concluding remarks about the bill.


BILL:	SB14-155
TIME:	02:27:44 PM
MOVED:	Schafer
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-155 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with one member excused.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Fields	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Humphrey	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Landgraf	Yes
	McNulty	Excused
	Primavera	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Schafer	Yes
	McCann	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS