Prop 2 Compromise: Just Words on Paper
Last week’s Gold Room announcement of a “compromise” on medical cannabis was tremendous theater. Crafted in secret by a lame-duck Speaker, a libertarian group, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), the “compromise” was heralded before the assembled media and establishment figures—4 days before ballots were mailed, not coincidentally—as the solution to medical cannabis. The one thing that was not stated, again not coincidentally, was the simple truth that the Legislature is in not bound to follow the compromise.
When asked whether they would vote for the “compromise” that was crafted without the involvement of a patient, sponsor of Prop 2, or representative of TRUCE (the main patients coalition), several legislators privately spoke the truth. They acknowledged that the pressure to vote for something the Mormon Church wants is tremendous; however, their job, they stated, requires them to read the bill and speak to constituents and patients before they make up their mind. Asked whether the “compromise” could be amended, one legislator simply said, “It’s a bill, right?”. All said the bill, like all others, would be subject to amendment. And for the legislators who have always scuttled medical cannabis legislation that’s where the games begin.
The promise of a Governor and a lame-duck speaker to deliver the votes without amendment puts legislators in a Catch-22 situation. Normally, legislators would laugh at the thought. (No offense meant toward the Governor; but, one branch of government cannot guarantee delivery of the other; it doesn’t work that way; if anything, that pushes the other branch the other way). So, legislators will privately acknowledge that they are not bound. They do so quietly, however, because there is something that could deliver the deal. The glue that could bind the secretively-crafted agreement would be the Mormon Church’s control of the Utah Legislature. Of course, Utah being Utah, no one will publicly say, “The compromise will pass as is, because the Mormon Church will deliver the votes.”
So, what is a voter to think?
The “compromise” is theater, intended by Hughes and the Mormon Church to defeat Prop 2 by confusing voters that everything is solved. It is not. Not by a long way. No one who fought medical cannabis tooth and nail for 5 years suddenly had a change of heart. No legislator who refused for 5 years to meet with patients (and still hasn’t met with patients) has learned anything meaningful in the 2 months since the legislature was informed it had changed its collective mind on medical cannabis. Rather, opponents of medical cannabis saw polls indicating that Prop 2 would pass, and they scrambled to interfere with the election.
Prop 2 is the change agent. Prop 2 is the reason legislators might finally start considering the needs of patients. Prop 2 is the reason legislators might start listening to patients. Prop 2 is the reason patients might finally get relief. But, only if it passes. Vote “Yes” on Prop 2.
Read more coverage on Prop 2 by the Utah Bee here, here, here, here, here, here,here and here.
The Utah Bee seeks to share both sides of a debate. If anyone who opposes Proposition 2 wants to submit a piece with their views, we will gladly accept it.