In Utah, the legalization of medical cannabis is threatened by the Mormon Church

A bill to legalize medical cannabis will be put to a vote by Utah residents on the November ballot. While polls estimated 60% voters in favor, leaders of the Mormon Church, the state's largest religious and social institution, have just come out against it. Given that 60% of Utah residents are Mormons, their position jeopardizes the proposal's accession to the status of law.

A law under threat

Supporters of the law collected more than 150,000 signatures and had to defeat fierce opposition from a powerful physician lobby and the DEA. The proposed law would allow people to buy up to 57 grams of medical cannabis every two weeks, but they would not be allowed to smoke it; they would have to inhale it in vapor form, eat it or ingest it in pill form.

Despite these restrictions, However, Mormon leaders persist in viewing the plant as a drug, arguing that the law would interfere with police work and jeopardize the health and safety of the state. A conservative stance that Colorado and Nevada, which also has a large Mormon population, do not share this view. What's more, Mormon leaders in these states have not discriminated against medical cannabis users who use a drug approved by and in their state.

The proportion of Mormon leaders in Utah castigating the proposal has increased, and their stance presents Mormon patients and doctors with a major dilemma: to follow the Church's indications or to treat themselves with a drug that relieves pain and treats illnesses sometimes resistant to traditional medicine.

Mr. Schanz, a Mormon and director of the campaign in favor of the proposal, is nonetheless confident about the law's future: «We believe that in November, the people of Utah will side with patients by affirming that people who use cannabis for medical purposes are indeed patients and not criminals.» He adds that, as a traditional institution, it's not surprising that the Church opts for a conservative stance, but that on these issues that affect their well-being and health, people are more inclined to campaign for the recognition of their rights.

A paradoxical position

Some Mormons suffering from chronic pain or other ailments like Brian Stoll point out the paradox of the Church's position: «It seems silly that if I had lived in another state, I wouldn't have had to make such a difficult decision». Brian Stoll recently switched from cannabis to opioids in order to remain on good terms with the Church.

He adds: «It's still something that if I drive east or west, it's 100% legal and useful to my situation. We're not talking about recreational. It's just a drug». A fact also underlined by Mr. Schanz: “We're talking about medical cannabis, which science has proven to be effective for people in pain. People are prescribed pills, but they can't use something natural.

Here's the paradox: Mormon leaders' position on the subject is consistent with their doctrine of life, which prohibits all psychoactive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, coffee and tea, in accordance with the Word of Wisdom, The Church allows psychoactive and addictive substances to be used as medication. Thus, opioids, which are wreaking havoc in North America, and barbiturates are authorized, but medical cannabis, which could prove to be a gentler, more body-friendly treatment for the same illnesses, is prohibited.

Yet the doctrine does not specifically prohibit cannabis, nor does it say anything about it. On this point, Church leaders align themselves with the federal government's position, treating cannabis as just another illicit drug.