Everyone concerned with medicinal cannabis agrees that any action – or continued public silence – by the LDS church – whose spokespersons expressed reservations about the last serious attempt to legalize MC in 2016 – will effect the state debate.

Beyond humanitarian decency, we regard cannabis medicine as a medical, scientific, and sociological matter.

Our LDS TRUCE members (and there are a good number) are generally of the opinion that medical cannabis use is not a doctrinal issue, and we’ve also been told by people who should know that LDS patients in medically legal states are considered members in full good standing with all privileges and rights accruing to that status, as are members anywhere taking prescribed opioid medications.

We hope, then, that the debate will turn on the medical efficacy and the successful implementation all over the country, and won’t be framed as a social or moral issue, as in our thinking the medical use of cannabis simply lacks that dimension.

Personal (or so-called “recreational”) use is another matter and another debate, however one feels about it – but as we’ll have to point out doubtless many more times, this is NOT what any major Utah group is advocating for. Nor is the Initiative in any way “almost recreational,” as opponents are falsely claiming.

Still, given there is history, we agree that dialog to help clarify the positions of advocates and church officials can be, and hopefully will be mutually beneficial, and we are pleased this is ongoing….

“Advocates in Utah confirm they have met with representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ahead of a likely ballot initiative.

Nathan Frodsham of Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education (TRUCE) confirmed to FOX 13 he first met with LDS officials last year. He has [also] had recent ongoing conversations with them.

Frodsham said he felt church officials listened to his arguments.

‘They’re sensitive to the needs of patients. They know patients who use it out of state, legally, and have had some benefit from it,’ he said.

Frodsham told FOX 13 that church officials did express some concerns.

‘They are concerned about recreational or misuse, especially while it’s federally illegal,’ he said.

TRUCE isn’t the only group to speak to the LDS Church. The Utah Patients Coalition, which is running the medical cannabis ballot initiative, confirmed it also has met with church officials, but declined to comment further on it.”

Much more in the article. And please, no direct attacks on LDS church members in the comments. 2/3 of members are supporters and deserve to be treated as full allies in this cause (as our own membership shows). Fighting those on your side is worse than pointless – it actually works against our common goal.

Remember… …our name is “TRUCE”… …and a truce is all we seek. <3 #MMJ #LDS #Respect #Medicine #Science #Dialog #Peace #TRUCE    

See full article – Medical marijuana advocates meet with LDS Church ahead of ballot initiative