Utah legislators set to discuss medical marijuana

A Utah legislative committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss whether marijuana should be legal for people with certain medical conditions.

The state has a limited medical marijuana law, but two proposals to expand it died at the state legislature this year.

Medical marijuana proponents have found a new legislative sponsor as they gear up to take another run next year. Republican Rep. Gage Froerer of Huntsville says he plans to sponsor a bill that would help people with a wide array of medical conditions.

Utah already allows a marijuana extract, called cannabidiol, to be used by those with severe epilepsy, as long as they obtain it from other states.

The hearing comes a day after Mike Weinholtz, a Democratic candidate for governor, called for the legalization of medical marijuana after his wife pleaded guilty to misdemeanor pot-possession charges.