81 applications submitted to grow medical cannabis in Utah

The state Department of Agriculture and Food says 81 people have submitted applications to become the first to grow medical cannabis in the state of Utah.

The department will now review those applications to pick the ten people who will get a license to grow cannabis for the state's medical marijuana program.

The state plans to allow patients who receive a prescription from their doctor to buy cannabis from pharmacies beginning next year.

The program is the result of a bill passed by state lawmakers that changed voter-approved Proposition Two, which would have allowed more widespread growth and use of medical marijuana.