Sister Lisa Harkness, First Counselor in the General Primary Presidency that oversees Mormon children, is worried that Utah voters might be confused about what is on their ballot next week.
Harkness is one of the top leaders for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tasked with opposing the medical marijuana initiative known as Proposition 2. She wants to make it clear that the ballot initiative and a compromise being worked out between state lawmakers and special interest groups are not the same thing.
“The compromise is not written into Proposition 2 but Proposition 2 still stands, and we as a coalition are still opposed to it,” Harkness told reporters at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City on Friday afternoon.
Harkness reiterated the Mormon Church’s stance that the proposition, as it is written, allows far too much flexibility with how marijuana would be sold and consumed.
She warned it could get in the hands of children, possibly causing developmental issues and addiction.
Church officials, including Harkness, have clarified that they do not oppose the medicinal use of medical marijuana but strongly oppose any recreational use.
“We don’t want to solve one problem and at the same time cause other problems for families, children in our communities,” Harkness said.
Polling has shown the proposition’s popularity has declined in recent months, particularly since Mormon leaders publicly voiced their disapproval and began work on the compromise.
No matter what happens with the vote next week, state lawmakers have promised to hold a special session soon to create a highly regulated system for distributing marijuana for medicinal use across Utah.
