AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.

Medical cannabis pharmacy rules would change under this bill to formally give the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food authority, through its standard rulemaking process, to divide the state into at least four geographic regions for locating medical cannabis pharmacies, with those regions designed to spread pharmacies out enough to reasonably maximize patient access statewide. The bill also clarifies that the Cannabis Production Establishment and Pharmacy Licensing Advisory Board cannot approve a pharmacy's request to relocate outside its assigned region, and this restriction would apply at all times rather than only when a public hearing on the relocation is held. Additionally, when awarding new pharmacy licenses, the licensing board would be required to use these designated regions to help ensure geographic dispersal among pharmacies.