SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 5, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Two similar bills ─ with one key difference ─ passed votes in their separate committees on Thursday, and will move on in the Legislature to be considered by the State Senate, probably within the next week.
On Friday, a spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made it clear the church opposes one of the bills.
Both bills legalize the use of medical marijuana under specific and highly regulated circumstances, but that key differences is:
• SB 89, sponsored by Rep. Brad Daw (R-Orem) and Sen. Emily Vickers (R-Cedar City), supports the use of marijuana extract.
• And SB 73, sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen (R-Saratoga Springs), is known as the “whole plant” bill.
Bill 73, which allows the use of the whole plant, is the one the Church opposes, according to a statement LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins.
“As we have said during previous legislative sessions, there are a number of potential impacts that must be considered in any discussion about the legalization of medical marijuana, including balancing medical need with the necessity of responsible controls,” Hawkins said, in a prepared statement.
“Along with others, we have expressed concern about the unintended consequences that may accompany the legalization of medical marijuana. We have expressed opposition to Senator Madsen’s bill because of that concern. We are raising no objection to the other bill that addresses this issue.”
DEVELOPING
Strictly speaking cannabis is not yet against the word-of-wisdon (In states where it is legal at least). The opposition presented Friday by the LDS Church suggests that Utah’s SB73 may be the tipping point. I am guessing it may be the ‘Bob Marley’ image that the church wants to avoid. I also feel that because THC is mind altering in high levels that could also be a problem for some (even though it is light years safer than many legal substances especially in lower doses). But overall, the Church is recognizing its need medicinally. The church is favoring Utah SB89 which I do not have all of the details other than the sponsor of the bill is a pharmacist by trade, probably has strong ties to the Church and has made a strong case for regulation via big pharma. I have heard that SB89 does not allow whole-plant-access directly to end users which SB73 does. It is extract only without THC is all I know. But if it is without THC that illimantes more than half the ailments medical cannabis provides. I want to find out if SB89 provides allowable THC levels or any other cannabinoid profile in the mix or is it expected to be just pure CBD and if so, how is this any different than HB105 that passed a few years ago in Utah for those children with acute epilepsy. I have tried to find these answers and have written the sponsor Senator Evan Vickers and have not heard back yet. http://www.wheatandtares.org/7110/is-medical-marijuana-against-the-word-of-wisdom/
I’m curious to know what the LDS Church has in mind when they stated that SB 73 would possibly have “unitended consequences”. From my understanding states like Colorado and Oregon are doing a lot better financially since they legalized marijuana for recreational use. I’d love to see an article regarding this matter that goes a little more in depth about their opinion on SB 73. Amongst Utah’s population, the views on medicinal marijuana seem kind of mixed, but are more favorable to legalizing it for medical use. Some feel like this bill would be an amazing alternative to a lot of medications and procedures for specific ailments and wouldn’t carry all of the different side effects you get with prescription pain killers, chemotherapy, etc. Others feel like the plant is associated with criminals and and goes against everything that they feel is morally right or in the LDS church’s case, it goes against the teachings of the gospel. In my case, I suffer from chronic lower back pain caused by a couple of herniated disks that have given me so many problems for about 3 years now. I have taken all kinda of medications from all sorts pain killers to muscle relaxers that seems like they’ve done more harm then good. I have had to deal with OIC, (Opioid Induced constipation) opiod dependency, and withdrawls in order to find relief just so I can sleep at night. Of course I’m not the only person who has dealt with these problems. Thousands of people in utah rely on similar medications to help treat their diseases/injuries and would like nothing more then to see this bill pass, myself included. I did a lot of research on the benefits of medicinal marijuana about a year ago and I made the decision to try it out and see if the plant could offer me any relief. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t notice any significant changes. I was ingesting marijuana roughly about once or twice per day usually after I had came home from work or when I was about to go to bed. within a couple of weeks, I had felt completely fine. It was as if I was completely normal again and didn’t feel any discomfort from my normal daily activities like walking, exercising, etc. In my honest opinion, it amazes me that this plant is still a schedule 1 substance up there with the more harder/dangerous drugs. Studies have shown so many positive benefits that marijuana has and it’s astounding that people have the same opinion about it that others did in the past when the goverment was spreading false propaganda saying how harmful it is. I want the bill to pass not only for my own personal use, but for those who deal with the same chronic pain and have found little to no relief. I feel as though it would be in the best interest of the people of Utah if the state would allow both bills to pass. I would hope that even though the LDS Church expressed their opposition to SB 73, Utah’s government will still decide what would be in the best interest of the people as a whole and not based off a religions groups opinion or certain biases that our states representative have towards SB 73. I look forward to reading any updates on the statuses of both SB 73 and SB 89 and hope that Utah joins the other states that have decided to legalizing it for medicinal purposes to help those unfortunate people who have to deal with so much pain and discomfort on a daily basis. Hopefully one day, they can have that relief and live a normal life.