<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div dir="ltr"><span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">Courtesy of today’s (October 5, 2018) Spokesman-Review at:<div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/oct/04/mormon-church-backs-deal-to-allow-medical-marijuan/">http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/oct/04/mormon-church-backs-deal-to-allow-medical-marijuan/</a><br><div><br></div><div>———————————————</div><div><br></div><div><div><h1 class="f3 f2-l sans-serif mt0 mb2 fw8 lh-solid" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "avenir next", avenir, "helvetica neue", helvetica, ubuntu, roboto, noto, "segoe ui", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1; font-feature-settings: "liga" 0; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-size: 2.25rem; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Mormon church backs deal to allow medical marijuana in Utah</h1></div><div><br></div><div>SALT LAKE CITY – The Mormon church joined lawmakers, the governor and advocates to back a deal Thursday that would legalize medical marijuana in conservative Utah after months of fierce debate.</div><div><br></div><div>The compromise comes as people prepare to vote in November on a medical marijuana ballot initiative that held its ground despite opposition from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.</div><div><br></div><div>Gov. Gary Herbert said he’ll call lawmakers into a special session after the midterm election to pass the compromise into law regardless of how the initiative fares.</div><div><br></div><div>If the initiative passes, it will be revised under the terms of the deal. It if fails, the Legislature would consider a law under the new framework.</div><div><br></div><div>The agreement in such a conservative state underscores the nation’s changing attitude toward marijuana. Medical use now is legal in more than 30 states and is on the November ballot in Missouri. So-called recreational marijuana goes before voters in Michigan and North Dakota. If passed, it will be a first for a Midwestern state.</div><div><br></div><div>The faith had long frowned upon medical marijuana use because of a key church health code called the “Word of Wisdom,” which prohibits coffee as well as alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs.</div><div><br></div><div>The Utah-based faith feared broad use of pot but ranking global leader Jack Gerard said church officials are “thrilled” to be a part of the effort to “alleviate human pain and suffering” with medical marijuana.</div><div><br></div><div>The deal has the key backing of the church and leaders of the Republican-dominated Legislature, who said the regulations in the hard-won agreement have their seal of approval.</div><div><br></div><div>Unlike the ballot initiative, the compromise won’t allow people to grow their own marijuana if they live too far from a dispensary. It also doesn’t allow certain types of edible marijuana that could appeal to children, like cookies and brownies.</div><div><br></div><div>“I will do everything in my power to ensure this compromise passes in the special session,” said Utah Senate President Wayne Niederhauser.</div><div><br></div><div>Medical marijuana advocates are backing the deal to avoid wrangling and uncertainty that could continue if the ballot initiative passes.</div><div><br></div><div>“There will be medical cannabis here in our day in Utah,” said advocate DJ Schanz. The two sides agreed to scale back media campaigns supporting and opposing the ballot measure known as Proposition 2.</div><div><br></div><div>Smoking marijuana would not be allowed under the ballot proposal. It instead allows edible forms, lotions or electronic cigarettes.</div><div><br></div><div>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opposed the ballot measure, but leaders also made first-ever public statements supporting the use of medical marijuana if prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacy. The church’s positions carry outsized sway in its home state.</div></div><div><br></div><div>———————————————</div><div><br></div><div><b><i><u>LEGALIZE IT</u> ! <u>REGULATE IT</u> ! <u>TAX IT</u> !</i></b></div><div><img src="cid:9C8BE79E-A7F8-4034-9BC9-06DF78A2056A" alt="image1.jpeg" id="9C8BE79E-A7F8-4034-9BC9-06DF78A2056A"></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/MedRecMarijuanaIdaho/Idaho_Marijuana_Stamp.jpg">http://www.moscowcares.com/MedRecMarijuanaIdaho/Idaho_Marijuana_Stamp.jpg</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></span><br><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>