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| Image: O’Dea |
Written by George Scott
Should medical cannabis (marijuana) be legalized in Utah? Who can benefit from it, and why do they want it, as opposed to prescription drugs? These questions and more will be addressed in St. George on Thursday, July 16, at 7:00 p.m. at the Dixie Convention Center when Libertas Institute hosts a panel to discuss Republican Senator Mark Madsen’s proposal to legalize medical marijuana in the most recent Utah legislative session. This event is free and open to the public.
Panelists will include Senator Madsen, who sponsored SB259, Medical Cannabis Amendments; Christine Stenquist, the executive director of Drug Policy Project of Utah as well as a patient illegally using medical cannabis to treat her condition; Dr. Mike Wilson, a local resident and medical doctor whose daughter was being treated with cannabis prior to passing away a few weeks ago due to complications from a brain tumor; and David Doddridge, a retired narcotics officer who opposes the so-called “war on drugs.”
This is the third of a series of public forums hosted by Libertas Institute in Utah on the issue of legalizing medical cannabis. The first was held in Ogden and focused on the law enforcement and criminal justice aspects of medical cannabis legalization. The second—held last month in Provo—focused entirely on patient stories, hearing from current and would-be users as to why they need legalization.
In a press release announcing the Thursday panel, Connor Boyack, the president of the Libertas Institute, said these meetings are a great way to both educate the public and show the Utah legislature that broad support exists for legalizing medical cannabis.
“This isn’t abstract policy we’re talking about,” Boyack said. “These are real people with real experiences who are suffering because they are being legally denied something that they and their doctors believe can help them.”
Senator Madsen was also quoted as saying: “I’m eager to participate in these meetings. For Utahns, like me, who sincerely believe in individual liberty and limited government, and who are interested in learning about medical cannabis, these public forums will be invaluable. People need to become informed and weigh in if we are ever going to stop government from making decisions for people that are better left to them and their physicians.”
SB 259 was introduced and advanced during the last Utah legislative session. The bill would allow specialists to prescribe marijuana to patients. With its late introduction, the bill died; however, Madsen has vowed to continue the process and work with lawmakers throughout the off-season to educate them on the bill and the history of criminalization of the drug.
A poll conducted by Y2 Analytics earlier this year found that 72 percent of likely voters in Utah support the proposed legislation.
All interested parties are encouraged to attend the forum for an informative and inspiring evening to learn more about medical cannabis in Utah. A YouTube video of the June 16 forum held in Provo can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1qSGjBNarw&feature=youtu.be
About Libertas Institute:
Libertas Institute’s mission is to advance the cause of liberty within the state of Utah by supporting and defending individual liberty, private property rights, and free markets. The Institute promotes liberty by generating non-partisan analysis, holding public events, producing literature, and strategically engaging opinion leaders, policy makers, media, and interested Utahns.
