The House has voted 39-30 in favor of SB 1146a, the cannabidiol oil bill, sending it to the governor’s desk. The debate on the bill was lengthy, including a vigorous debate from Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, against the bill. “This is kicking the door wide open,” Malek told the House. “THC will be legal if we pass this bill.” He said there’s no way to determine amounts of THC in the oil. “This is an exemption to our law. This makes THC legal,” Malek said. “There’s nothing that would stop the use of THC in the streets, the way this potential statute is constructed.”

Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, spoke in favor of the bill. “Let’s use some common sense,” he said. “This is not about marijuana. This is about a derivative of the hemp plant.”

Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, in his closing debate, said, “With this cannabidiol oil, there is absoutely no risk of intoxication.”