Utah Cannabis Politicians: Cox, Schultz, Adams, Vickers

Last verified: April 2026

Gov. Spencer J. Cox (R)

Gov. Spencer J. Cox was re-elected in 2024. As Lt. Governor in 2017, he approved Proposition 2 signature gathering. As governor, NORML rates him “B / MEDICAL USE” — supportive of the program, opposed to expansion. He opposed psilocybin legalization in 2023 (“I’d rather wait for the FDA. We got there with medical marijuana. I just don’t believe the science is there”) but allowed a 2024 hospital psilocybin / MDMA pilot to take effect without his signature. On recreational, Cox “remains firmly opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana,” stating Utah’s current approach “ensures Utahns have access to relief while maintaining important safeguards.” He has signed every annual cannabis tweak since 2021.

Remains firmly opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana. Utah's current approach ensures Utahns have access to relief while maintaining important safeguards.

Gov. Spencer J. Cox (R) — public statement on recreational legalization

Former Gov. Gary Herbert

Former Gov. Gary Herbert is the architect of the Utah Compromise. He defended Church involvement directly: “you could say the same thing if you were in Massachusetts about the Catholic Church.” He left office in January 2021. His legacy is the negotiated framework that prevented patients being held hostage to ballot-measure litigation but also drew “betrayal” charges from advocates. See the Utah Compromise.

Senate President J. Stuart Adams (R-Layton)

Sen. J. Stuart Adams has been Senate president since 2018 and is opposed to recreational legalization. Adams personally called into a February 2025 committee hearing to vote in favor of the heavily amended HB 203, signaling support for measured medical-program tweaks even as he firmly rejects recreational.

Utah already has a responsible, well-balanced and effective program. … Legalization beyond medical use has led to serious social issues, including homelessness and criminal problems.

Senate President J. Stuart Adams (R-Layton)

House Speaker Mike Schultz (R-Hooper)

House Speaker Mike Schultz replaced Brad Wilson in January 2024 and has been adamant against recreational legalization. As House Majority Whip in 2019 he favored a “free market approach” allowing more pharmacies versus arbitrary caps. As Speaker, in March 2025 he said he has “a huge problem with turning Utah into a recreational state … not going to happen.” After the June 2025 polls, he added: “Expanding beyond medicinal purposes raises serious concerns. … We must stand up for what’s in the best interest of our state and our kids.” A 2019 Fox 13 report noted Schultz’s father had applied for (and did not receive) a medical cannabis grow license.

Sen. Evan Vickers (R-Cedar City)

Sen. Evan Vickers, a pharmacist by training, has been the legislature’s lead cannabis policy author since 2018. He sponsored the Senate version of HB 3001 and authored SB 1002 (2019), SB 121 (2020), SB 91 (2023), SB 64 (2025), and SB 121 (2026). Vickers is generally moderate, willing to expand on the margins but defending the regulated, pharmacy-anchored model. His pharmacist background and his rural-Utah district give him standing in both the medical-establishment and conservative-caucus conversations.

House Sponsors and Bridge Members

Rep. Brad Daw (R-Orem) has been the long-time floor sponsor of cannabis bills, serving as a bridge between the conservative caucus and patient advocates. Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost (D-Salt Lake) is the Democratic point-person on medical-cannabis expansion, leading 2025’s HB 203 and HB 54. Rep. Walt Brooks (R) was House sponsor of SB 121 (2026) and SB 91 (2023). Rep. Grant Miller (D-District 24) sponsored 2026 HB 253 (decriminalization of up to 14 grams to a $750 civil infraction), backed by the Marijuana Policy Project; passage status is unconfirmed in available reporting.

At-a-Glance: The Six Names That Matter Most

What These Posture Lines Mean in Practice

Cox, Adams, and Schultz have each publicly signaled they will not move on recreational legalization. Vickers, Daw, Brooks, and Dailey-Provost are open to medical-program tweaks — the kind of incremental changes that have actually moved each session since 2019. Miller’s HB 253 is the only recent attempt at meaningfully reducing penalties for non-cardholders, and even it stops short of full decriminalization (it would convert possession of up to 14 grams to a $750 civil infraction on first offense). The pattern is consistent with the broader political ceiling described in the reform overview.

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