Social Media Reacts To Medical Marijuana Announcement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined Drug Safe Utah at a press conference Thursday to discuss medical marijuana.

Utahns will vote on the Utah Medical Marijuana Initiative this November.

Kem Gardner, kicking off the press conference for Drug Safe Utah, said Proposition 2 is “ill-conceived” and reiterated the group is opposed to it, saying it is “bad for Utah.”

Other speakers included a representative from the Utah Medical Association, a patient representative, and faith leaders including Elder Jack Gerard from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who said the Church isn’t opposed to marijuana being used for medicinal purposes but does not support Proposition 2.

“The Church does not object to the medicinal use of marijuana, if doctor-prescribed, in dosage form, through a licensed pharmacy,” said Elder Jack N. Gerard of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the press event with coalition member @DrugSafeUtah.

— Mormon Newsroom (@MormonNewsroom) August 23, 2018

Here’s how social media reacted (we’ll update this as additional relevant reactions are posted):

Some believe the Church shouldn’t be involved

So instead of learning from Prop 8, they’re doubling down on Prop 2. Hey @LDSchurch this doesn’t concern you or your members more than keeping prescription drugs safely in your home. Unless you wanna ban opiods, kindly return to your rebranding exercise and back off.

— 🏳️‍🌈 Ⓓⓘⓒⓚ Ⓒⓛⓐⓡⓚ 🏳️‍🌈 (@TheSpartanLives) August 22, 2018

Others pointed out the Church offered support for medical marijuana, just not in the form of Proposition 2

Is Drug Safe Utah’s vision feasible?

I’m undecided on Prop 2, but it’s become very clear at this point that a reasonable bill with “appropriate safeguard” has no chance of passing the Utah Legislature. So I feel a misleading argument keeps getting made here. #utpol https://t.co/Ni3x2q04Rk

— Paul Gibbs (@entitled2life) August 23, 2018

Two 70s and a counselor in the primary presidency speaking out against Prop 2. #utpol

Say they want it only through a pharmacy, which is federally impossible. pic.twitter.com/0Q2ELpUDmZ

I’m undecided on Prop 2, but it’s become very clear at this point that a reasonable bill with “appropriate safeguard” has no chance of passing the Utah Legislature. So I feel a misleading argument keeps getting made here. #utpol https://t.co/Ni3x2q04Rk

— Paul Gibbs (@entitled2life) August 23, 2018

I’m undecided on Prop 2, but it’s become very clear at this point that a reasonable bill with “appropriate safeguard” has no chance of passing the Utah Legislature. So I feel a misleading argument keeps getting made here. #utpol https://t.co/Ni3x2q04Rk

— Paul Gibbs (@entitled2life) August 23, 2018

— Connor Boyack (@cboyack) August 23, 2018

Money played a role in some responses

Short thought on Prop 2:
-fully legalize it
-regulate it the way you regulate alcohol
-tax the hell out of it
-PROFIT

— Optimus Z (@MrZupon) August 23, 2018

There were personal stories shared in favor of legalization

 

My cousin’s epileptic daughter is pretty much a new child now that she’s using medical marijuana. I hope Utahns vote YES on Prop 2 this November. https://t.co/8DwxC4wSDh

— Amy Olsen (@AmyO122) August 23, 2018

It was definitely an easy topic to poke fun at

Live look at the Prop 2 conference pic.twitter.com/7wT9icqBDC

— Rod Kimble (@APurposefulUte) August 23, 2018

For or against, this was also a reminder of the synonyms for marijuana

Watch the entire press conference here: