{"id":64188,"date":"2018-08-24T08:08:05","date_gmt":"2018-08-24T14:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=64188"},"modified":"2018-09-05T09:52:46","modified_gmt":"2018-09-05T15:52:46","slug":"medical-marijuana-in-utah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html","title":{"rendered":"Medical Marijuana in Utah?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Cannabis sativa (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a> has taken an official stand \u2014 hardly alone, in this case \u2014 against Proposition 2 on the November Utah ballot. \u00a0In case you missed it, I append below the material that came out from the Church.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some inveterate critics of the Church are deriding or attacking the Church for opposing the use of \u201cmedical marijuana.\u201d \u00a0But they haven\u2019t paid serious attention to what the Church is actually saying. \u00a0Here it is:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dear Brothers and Sisters,\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nIn November, Proposition 2, an initiative which would legalize the sale and use of marijuana, will appear on the ballot. Its proponents assert that it will make medical marijuana available to those suffering with debilitating pain and other infirmities. However, in truth it goes much further, creating a serious threat to health and public safety, especially for our youth and young adults, by making marijuana generally available with few controls.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nThe Church joins a coalition of medical experts, public officials, and community stakeholders in calling for a safe and compassionate approach to providing medical marijuana to those in need. The Church does not object to the medicinal use of marijuana, if doctor prescribed, in dosage form, through a licensed pharmacy.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nAs a member of the coalition, we urge voters of Utah to vote NO on Proposition 2<\/strong>, and join us in a call to state elected officials to promptly work with medical experts, patients, and community leaders to find a solution that will work for all Utahns, without the harmful effects that will come to pass if Proposition 2 becomes law.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nFor more information on Proposition 2 please\u00a0refer to this legal analysis<\/a>\u00a0prepared for the Church by Kirton McConkie.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n\"\"\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nElder Craig C. Christensen
\nPresident, Utah Area<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Statement on Proposition 2\u00a0<\/span>\n

Medical Marijuana Initiative\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Medical marijuana is an issue that has generated strong emotions and opinions among proponents and opponents alike. On one hand, initiatives to legalize marijuana in other states have led to increased drug use among youth, higher risk of impaired driving, and an increase in hospital emergency room visits, among other significant public health and safety concerns. On the other hand, patients suffering from debilitating pain and other medical conditions have struggled as traditional treatment strategies have failed to provide relief.\u00a0The marijuana initiative appearing as Proposition 2 on the ballot this November does not strike the appropriate balance in ensuring safe and reasonable access for patients while also protecting youth and preventing other societal harms.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nWe are firmly opposed to Proposition 2. However, we do not object to marijuana derivatives being used in medicinal form\u2014so long as appropriate controls and safeguards are in place to ensure vulnerable populations are protected and access is limited to truly medicinal purposes. Moreover, though continued research into the risks and benefits of medical marijuana use remains paramount, current scientific evidence suggests marijuana contains components that may be of benefit to some patients.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nWe urge the voters of Utah to vote no on Proposition 2.<\/strong>We also urge lawmakers, patients, and community stakeholders to work together to find a solution that works for all Utahns. The hallmarks of Utah\u2019s unique policy accomplishments in the past have been civility, compassion, and a spirit of compromise, and we are confident an approach guided by these principles will yield similarly effective policies.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nSincerely,\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nUtah Medical Association
\nSalt Lake Chamber of Commerce
\nThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
\nUtah Episcopal Diocese
\nUtah Hospital Association
\nUtah PTA
\nFraternal Order of Police
\nFamily Policy Resource
\nUtah Narcotics Officers Association
\nIslamic Society of Greater Salt Lake
\nLatinos in Action
\nUtah Sheriff\u2019s Association
\nSalt Lake City Police Association
\nSutherland Institute
\nUtah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
\nUtah Eagle Forum
\nUtah Society of Anesthesiologists
\nFamily First Foundation
\nMeridian Magazine
\nNewquist Group
\nCitizens for Strong Families
\nAmerican College of Emergency Physicians, Utah Chapter\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nWayne Niederhauser\u2014Utah Senate President
\nGreg Hughes\u2014Speaker of the Utah House
\nScott Anderson\u2014President and CEO, Zions Bank
\nGail Miller\u2014Owner & Chair of the LHM Group of Companies
\nKaren Huntsman
\nMike Leavitt\u2014Former Governor, Secretary of HHS
\nDavid Huntsman, President, Huntsman Foundation
\nMitt Romney\u2014Former U.S. Presidential Candidate
\nJim Jardine\u2014Lawyer, Education Leader
\nKem Gardner\u2014Chairman, Gardner Company
\nDave Mallinak, Pastor, Berean Baptism Church, Ogden
\nSteve Starks\u2014President, Utah Jazz, and LHM Sports & Entertainment
\nSpencer P. Eccles\u2014Former Exec. Dir. Governor\u2019s Office of Economic Development
\nNathan Frodsham\u2014Patient Advocate
\nAimee Winder Newton\u2014Chair Salt Lake County Council
\nKim R. Wilson\u2014Attorney
\nEnedina Stanger\u2014Patient Advocate
\nWalt Plumb\u2014Developer
\nDerek Miller\u2014President and CEO, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce
\nTodd Moon\u2014Patient Advocate
\nRev. Gregory Johnson, President of Standing Together
\nCarlton Christensen\u2014Former Salt Lake City Council Member
\nKaren Hale\u2014Former Utah State Senator
\nMike Kennedy\u2014MD
\nEd Kennedy\u2014President, Truth about Prop. 2
\nJennifer Brown, DDS\u2014Dentist\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n*\u201dThere are a significant number of Utah elected officials and others running for office this year, who have signed the statement. We have chosen not to include their names here.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken an official stand \u2014 hardly alone, in this case \u2014 against Proposition 2 on the November Utah ballot. \u00a0In case you missed it, I append below the material that came out from the Church. \u00a0 Some inveterate critics of the Church are deriding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2157,1809,2159,2151,2153,788,55,2155,782],"class_list":["post-64188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-cannabis","tag-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints","tag-hash","tag-marijuana","tag-medical-marijuana","tag-mormon","tag-mormonism","tag-proposition-2","tag-utah"],"yoast_head":"\nMedical Marijuana in Utah?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken an official stand -- hardly alone, in this case -- against Proposition 2 on the\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Medical Marijuana in Utah?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken an official stand -- hardly alone, in this case -- against Proposition 2 on the\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sic et Non\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-08-24T14:08:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2018-09-05T15:52:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/files\/2018\/08\/Marijuana_Plant_03.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dan Peterson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dan Peterson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html\",\"name\":\"Medical Marijuana in Utah?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2018-08-24T14:08:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2018-09-05T15:52:46+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#\/schema\/person\/77113e9b09701bd1599fa272c4f65045\"},\"description\":\"    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken an official stand -- hardly alone, in this case -- against Proposition 2 on the\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Medical Marijuana in Utah?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/\",\"name\":\"Sic et Non\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#\/schema\/person\/77113e9b09701bd1599fa272c4f65045\",\"name\":\"Dan Peterson\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5ed1a72d26805e35a503e3167599df7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5ed1a72d26805e35a503e3167599df7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Dan Peterson\"},\"description\":\"\\\"Life was very unsatisfying until I discovered Dan's blog, which gave me a reason to live.\\\" (gemli, 7 November 2019)\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/author\/danpeterson\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Medical Marijuana in Utah?","description":"    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken an official stand -- hardly alone, in this case -- against Proposition 2 on the","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Medical Marijuana in Utah?","og_description":"    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken an official stand -- hardly alone, in this case -- against Proposition 2 on the","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html","og_site_name":"Sic et Non","article_published_time":"2018-08-24T14:08:05+00:00","article_modified_time":"2018-09-05T15:52:46+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/files\/2018\/08\/Marijuana_Plant_03.jpg"}],"author":"Dan Peterson","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dan Peterson","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html","name":"Medical Marijuana in Utah?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#website"},"datePublished":"2018-08-24T14:08:05+00:00","dateModified":"2018-09-05T15:52:46+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#\/schema\/person\/77113e9b09701bd1599fa272c4f65045"},"description":"    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken an official stand -- hardly alone, in this case -- against Proposition 2 on the","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/08\/medical-marijuana-in-utah.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Medical Marijuana in Utah?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/","name":"Sic et Non","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#\/schema\/person\/77113e9b09701bd1599fa272c4f65045","name":"Dan Peterson","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5ed1a72d26805e35a503e3167599df7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5ed1a72d26805e35a503e3167599df7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Dan Peterson"},"description":"\"Life was very unsatisfying until I discovered Dan's blog, which gave me a reason to live.\" (gemli, 7 November 2019)","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/author\/danpeterson"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64188\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}