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Medical Pot Advocates Drop Mormon Church Claim

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A lawyer for medical-marijuana advocates says he's dropping a claim that Utah lawmakers conspired with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to overhaul a voter-approved medical pot ballot initiative.

Attorney Rocky Anderson said on Friday afternoon that the lawsuit will instead focus arguments that it was unconstitutional to replace a law passed by voters. It will also raise questions about whether the statute violated federal law.

Utah had argued that the church did not unduly influence sweeping changes made to the new ballot measure.

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Members of the Utah-based faith have long frowned on marijuana use because of a church health code that prohibits the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs.