Utah’s medicinal cannabis bill still struggling
The struggle over medicinal cannabis in Utah is still not over.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Evan Vickers, a pharmacist by trade, is writing a new plan on how to distribute cannabis to qualifying patients.
Never mind that a reasonable initiative was passed by voters.
And never mind that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stepped in to rewrite the voter-approved initiative to a watered-down measure more to its liking and that the legislature adopted it.
Now Vickers and the legislature want to amend the voter-approved initiative — again.
Under the current measure, cannabis would be available through seven state-run “central-fill” pharmacies.
That means the state health department would be involved in growing, procurement, and sales.
But you can expect that to change.
Why?
According to a recent Associated Press story, county attorneys are apparently concerned that the public employees who would operate the state-run “central fill” pharmacies would be at risk of being prosecuted under federal drug laws and that using the state’s health departments as pickup points could make the employees de facto drug dealers.
Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it the job of county attorneys to stay abreast of changes in the law?
I guess not, because if they were, they would know that Congress has already passed legislation that keeps the Justice Department from interfering with states’ medical cannabis programs, so their concerns basically go up in smoke.
There is one saving grace to the Vickers plan. It would increase the number of dispensaries in the state from seven to 12, and that is a grudging nudge forward. Twelve dispensaries is nowhere near enough to fulfill the need and would put an undue hardship on those in rural areas, especially since they would not be allowed to cultivate their own medicine. I’m not sure, but having known Vickers since 1997, I see him as an aggressive businessman who would probably try to get his share of green by selling green to sick people. I could be wrong, but if you are dispensing killer opioids, why would you be opposed to dispensing a substance that has never been responsible for one overdose death? I guess we will have to wait and see on that one, although there is a clear conflict of interest in him being involved in any bill writing or debate related to medicinal cannabis.
Regardless of the conflict involved here, the idea of separating the sales of legal, medicinal cannabis from the state and handing it all over to private interests would be a step in the right direction.
There are plenty of restrictions that would and should be placed on those involved in the cannabis trade. Tracking from seed to stem is a perfectly legitimate plan.
But placing sales of cannabis or anything else under the widespread umbrella of the state is an affront to the premises of capitalism and an infringement of individual rights, as any card-carrying conservative would tell you.
We already have massive oversight when it comes to alcohol, which you can only obtain at a state liquor store.
The state has a long history quirky alcohol laws, mostly instigated by the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which holds a tight rein on the legislature and as a result on the people of Utah. I can only imagine what ridiculousness will end up being tacked onto cannabis regulation before this is all said and done.
The thing is, if I wanted to live by Mormon doctrine, I would convert. But I don’t, and I won’t.
A case could be made that the church planted this seed to stall implementation of compassionate law. Given Utah’s history, it would not be much of a stretch. However, it is sad that every time a piece of social legislation is discussed or voted upon we have to examine it closely for church fingerprints, which are on everything from booze rules to women’s health and reproductive rights. It’s a cynical view, but I would bet that if the church could figure a way to get 10 percent of the legal cannabis revenue, you’d see an abrupt about-face and full recreational use approved in a heartbeat.
The point here is that the initiative to legalize cannabis for medicinal use was a measure put forward by Utah voters and approved by Utah voters, which means that the majority of people who care enough about casting a ballot decided they wanted a change in the rule of law.
Voters did not ask for legislative intervention.
Voters did not ask for church compromise.
Voters simply wanted the bill they put together to pass and move forward without interference.
And they were ignored.
To tinker with the public will is to insult the public intelligence, and while I can understand why that sensibility may come into question at times, it is the way our system works and we have to accept it, deal with it, and live within the rules until we can change it.
There will always be those who think they are above it all and insist on imposing their will on the rest of us, whether by threatening our freedom or our eternal salvation, and if you don’t fall in with them … well, there must be something wrong with you.
Uh-uh.
There’s something wrong with them and anybody else who would limit your rights and freedoms or force you to acquiesce to their particular thinking.
I am hopeful that somehow, some way, we will get to a place where we can put all of this aside and help people who are truly in need.
I am hopeful that somehow, some way, we can overcome the social, cultural, and religious bias that denies compassionate care for those in need.
And I am hopeful that somehow, some way, we can arrive at a point where the will of the people — whether by majority vote or successful ballot referendum — influences how we are governed.
We deserve no less.
Peace.
The viewpoints expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Independent.
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I’ve decided that, regardless of state law, I will be growing my own in my backyard. It’s private enough and doesn’t have prying eyes of nosey neighbors. But I’ve had it with the state of Mormon. I voted to legalize medical cannabis and they changed what I voted for almost immediately. That was the final straw. It doesn’t matter what they want anymore. I spent almost a decade addicted to pain pills. Cannabis not only helped me get off of pain pills but it has helped me stay off of them.
These people who keep changing laws are not to be taken seriously anymore. Growing cannabis in my own backyard is my way of not only protesting their ignorance but taking control of my future and my health. I will no longer allow people who have no experience with this plant tell me what I can do with it. Hands off my medicine, Utah.