Found this Politico article documenting how the Church came around to a circumscribed medical marijuana bill in Utah really interesting. Particularly interesting is how the change of heart is attributed to polling showing overwhelming public support among Utahns. The dynamic here is interesting because it implies that the Church is aware of the limits to its power to influence Utah state politics, and is willing to take a pragmatic stance against its doctrine if it ensures it can keep a seat at the legislative table. I wonder what other issues might similarly force the Church's hand to support legislative action in Utah (even in watered-down form).
While some aspects of the church's role in the fight over medical marijuana have been chronicled before, a half-dozen lawmakers and advocates who worked on Utah's legalization effort offered new details to POLITICO: They explained how it first wielded influence both publicly and behind the scenes to oppose the issue, then — once polling showed overwhelming support among the public — employed that same political power to bring key players to the bargaining table to forge a compromise. The deal represented a shift for the church, but one that essentially rolled back a broader medical cannabis legalization ballot measure approved by voters in 2018.
Another interesting revelation in this reporting is that the Church's pragmatic coalition-building still seemingly has a red line: ex-Mormons.
Still, not everyone felt heard by the church in the compromise process. Patient advocacy group TRUCE no longer had a seat at the table. Its founder, Christine Stenquist, had left the church in 2017 and felt intentionally shut out of the negotiations.
“I'm the only one of that circle that isn't [a church member], and I'm the one that is completely shut out,” Stenquist said in an interview. “When the church doesn't like something, they hit the 'us versus them' thing. And it frustrates me to no end, because it isn't an 'us versus them' thing.”
Lastly, a good bit of information that was news to me is that the Church is allowing, at least impliedly, faithful members to use marijuana for medical reasons while still remaining in good standing.
A number of medical patients — many who were part of the faith — sat down with church representatives and explained how flower is important for quickly alleviating symptoms or seizures.
“[Church lobbyist Marty Stephens] came back to the meetings and said ‘Okay, I'm persuaded that we need this,’” said Boyack, who was in the room for the negotiations, referring to the church lobbyist.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/0 ... ana-491924