Utah Medical Cannabis Act initiative

The Utah Medical Cannabis Act is an initiative to legalize medical cannabis that qualified to appear on the November 2018 ballot in the U.S. state of Utah as Proposition 2.

Proposition 2
November 6, 2018
Utah Medical Cannabis Act
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 562,072 52.75%
No 503,558 47.25%
Valid votes 1,065,630 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 1,065,630 100.00%

A group called Utah Patients Coalition filed the Utah Medical Cannabis Act initiative in June, 2017.[1] By the beginning of the year, the group had gathered more than half of the 113,000 signatures required to get an initiative for medical cannabis on the November ballot.[2] The initiative allows for topicals, cannabis oil, cannabis edibles and vaping,[3] but not smoking. Polls in the second half of 2017 showed up to 78% support for the initiative.[4]

On March 26, the Lieutenant Governor's office validated 117,000 signatures on the Utah Medical Cannabis Act initiative, enough for it to get on the November ballot.[5] On May 29, the Lieutenant Governor announced that over 153,000 signatures had been validated, and the initiative would still be appearing on the November ballot, despite a contentious effort by initiative opponents to have some names removed.[6]

Groups and individuals supporting and opposing the initiative

Some groups and individuals have made their position on the inititiative known.

Support

The sponsor, Utah Patients Coalition, was joined by Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education (TRUCE) Utah and by a Koch funded lobbying group with ties to faith leaders in the Legislature, Libertas Institute.[7]

Opposition

Governor Gary Herbert stated on March 29 that he would "actively oppose" the initiative.[8] The Utah Medical Association urged voters who signed the petition to call county clerks to have their names removed.[9]

After initially "repeatedly declin[ing] to weigh in" with media on its position,[10] the LDS Church issued a statement on April 10 and another compiled by Kirton McConkie on May 11 endorsing the Utah Medical Association's position and opposing the initiative.[11][12]

References
  1. Michelle L. Price (June 26, 2017), Utah Group Files 2018 Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative – A group of activists and Utah residents with chronic conditions has launched a ballot initiative to ask voters next year to pass a broad medical marijuana law., Associated Press – via US News
  2. 'I think it's gonna happen' Governor Herbert says of medical marijuana in Utah, Salt Lake City: KSTU-TV, January 3, 2018
  3. Kelly Gifford (June 26, 2017), "Yes to medical marijuana in Utah, no to smoking it: Here's what Utahns may vote on in 2018", Salt Lake Tribune
  4. Utah Medical Marijuana Initiative (2018), Ballotpedia, retrieved 2018-02-22
  5. Ben Winslow (March 26, 2018), It looks like medical marijuana will be on the November ballot in Utah, Salt Lake City: KSTU News
  6. Lee Davidson (May 29, 2018), "Utahns will be voting on medical marijuana and Medicaid expansion — but not Utah's candidate nominating law", Salt Lake Tribune
  7. Simone Francis (April 2, 2018), Utah Medical Association weighs in on medical marijuana ballot initiative, KTVX
  8. Ben Lockhart (March 29, 2018), "Utah governor vows to 'actively oppose' medical marijuana ballot initiative", Deseret News
  9. Taylor W. Anderson (April 2, 2018), "Utah Medical Association accuses medical marijuana campaign of misleading voters into supporting initiative", Salt Lake Tribune
  10. Ben Winslow (April 2, 2018), Medical marijuana advocates meet with LDS Church ahead of ballot initiative, KSTU News
  11. Ben Lockhart (April 10, 2018), "LDS Church issues statement on proposed Utah marijuana initiative", Deseret News
  12. Luke Ramseth, Mormon church releases a list of ‘legal issues’ with Utah’s medical marijuana initiative. Salt Lake Tribune, 2018 May 12.
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