By Bliss Bytes Team
Believe it or not, one of the most pivotal moments in the modern hemp movement happened in a place you might not expect: Utah. Known more for mountains and modesty than marijuana, Utah was actually one of the first states to spark the CBD conversation—long before it was trendy, mainstream, or fully understood.
Let’s rewind the clock and take a look at how it all began.
The Turning Point: A Family, a Fight, and a Plant
In 2014, the state of Utah became ground zero for a public health debate that would ripple across the entire country.
It started with families—particularly those with children suffering from severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy. These parents weren’t looking for a high. They were desperate for relief. And they found it in CBD oil, a non-psychoactive compound from the cannabis plant that had shown promise in reducing seizures.
But at the time, CBD was still illegal in Utah, classified the same way as any other cannabis-derived product. So these families—some of them deeply conservative, religious, and politically connected—did what many wouldn’t dare: they spoke up.
2014: The Year Utah Said “Yes” (Sort Of)
Thanks to the pressure from these brave families and advocates, the Utah State Legislature passed House Bill 105, also known as “Charlee’s Law.” It was named after Charlee Nelson, a young girl whose epilepsy became a symbol of the fight for access.
The law:
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Legalized the possession and use of CBD oil for individuals with intractable epilepsy
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Allowed only hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.3% THC
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Required neurologist oversight
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Did not permit in-state production or sales—CBD had to be imported
It wasn’t a full win—but it was a first step. And for Utah, it was monumental.
From Exception to Expansion
As more patients and lawmakers saw the benefits, the state slowly expanded access:
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In 2018, Utah legalized industrial hemp cultivation
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Later that year, it passed The Utah Medical Cannabis Act, paving the way for state-regulated medical marijuana
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Meanwhile, the federal 2018 Farm Bill fully legalized hemp-derived CBD nationwide, giving states like Utah the green light to develop compliant markets
Today, CBD is legal and widely available in Utah, as long as it meets federal standards (less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC and properly tested).