After a lengthy hearing that stretched into the evening, the House State Affairs Committee has split, 8-8, on SB 1146a, the bill to legalize a non-psychotropic extract from cannabis to treat Idaho children with an intractable form of epilepsy. The hearing was initially scheduled for 8:30 this morning, but its start was delayed until after 9; then, it was cut off at 10 for other meetings and reconvened at 3 this afternoon. Well after 6 p.m., after hearing heartfelt pleas from parents urging support for the bill, steadfast opposition from Gov. Butch Otter’s Office of Drug Policy, comments from doctors both for and against the measure, and concerns from prosecutors and law enforcement, the committee voted on a motion send the bill to the full House with a recommendation that it “do pass.” When the result was a deadlock, the tied vote killed the bill, holding it in committee.

The measure had earlier passed the Senate, 22-12.