With all of the shiny new cannabis laws passed by the Legislature, why would anyone think UT needs to do more…?? Brad Daw can’t imagine, as he believes the new measures hit smack in the center of the Goldilocks zone.
Oh wait, there are some not buying this line…?? Yeah. Like us. And, well, cough, ahem, a mere 77% of the state’s voters who are in favor of safe, legal, affordable … and equitable … access to medical cannabis for all patients ASAP, not the gamesmanship of “message bills” promising reform, but which when examined fall so short their net effect is to hold back real reform.
TRUCE sincerely thanks local media for generally reporting what advocates are saying.
There’s so much more to add though, e.g., we’ll defer a critique of Sen. Vickers’ SB130 bill which purports to install a sensible CBD/Hemp Oil regulatory scheme. It isn’t all terrible, but won’t really come close to achieving that end in our estimation. There’s also much more in the article worth reading and discussing.
Meanwhile, we left our not-quite-favorite Utah Co. Rep alone yesterday, but we are taking him to task today on HB195 – the law which may allow a very small number of terminally ill patients to try cannabis.
TRUCE founder Christine Stenquist describes the new law as the “right to try if you promise to die act” – since if patients outlive the trial period, their cannabis medicine would be discontinued.
So. Let’s quote the article here on why the Rep relented on his long history of obstructing the use of THC in Utah:
“Daw is cautious about approving any use of full-strength marijuana, which he worries is addictive, but he said the risk is low in this case. ‘What worse thing is going to happen to them?’ he said.”
Is this how a compassionate reformer makes the case for improving the end of life care of the terminally ill….?
And does this paragraph make it a whole lot warmer? “The benefit is two-fold, he said: It may help ease their pain while helping the state gather information about how best to use medical marijuana.” Hmmm.
“‘I think we moved the ball down the field,’ Daw said. ‘A lot of people tell me I moved too far. A lot of people tell me I’m not going far enough. I say, OK, I’ve probably hit the sweet spot’.”
Uhhhm… …no. You didn’t.
Stenquist counters this slow approach is depriving people with chronic illnesses the chance at life-changing relief. The initiative would create a system where people can get clean, tested marijuana and work with their doctors to see what helps them.
‘It isn’t actually moving the ball forward, it’s delaying the conversation,’ Stenquist said. ‘It’s smoke and mirrors’.”
And as far as we’re concerned, the Legislature’s too little, too late desperation play will actually result in a safety, and if the initiative’s certified, the voters of the state will return their weak kick for a touchdown this fall…
#MMJ #Initiative #UTpol #MoveTheBall #TRUCE
See full article – New marijuana laws in Utah won’t stop ballot initiative | KSL.com
