SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church is ramping up its opposition to a medical-marijuana proposal in Utah even as leaders insist they would support patients using the drugs under stricter controls.
A leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jack Gerard, said Thursday the faith supports tightly controlled use of the drug, but is "deeply concerned" a plan set for the November ballot doesn't have enough oversight.
He was joined by a number of state heavy-hitters, like the president of the Utah Jazz, and a handful of patients who support medical pot but are turning against the ballot initiative in favor of the church-backed coalition.
Medical-marijuana advocates took the issue to the voters after years of frustration at the state Legislature and easily cleared a high bar to make the ballot.