SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to a state law that replaced the voter-approved law legalizing medical marijuana.
The court Tuesday dismissed the petition by The People's Right group that argued the governor and the state Legislature acted unconstitutionally when they replaced the medical marijuana ballot initiative with a more restrictive law in December.
The group had argued that Gov. Gary Herbert had effectively vetoed the original measure known as Proposition 2 by calling a special session. Ballot initiatives cannot be vetoed.
The court ruled the governor acted within his authority and can call special sessions in "exigent circumstances."
The court also rejected the group's effort for a referendum on the new medical marijuana law.
The law passed with two-thirds majority so it's not eligible for a referendum.