I haven't written in this blog since 2015 and it just so happens that the same topic that I wrote about last time is what brought me back to my blog.
I wasn't planning on responding or commenting on any of the negative criticism or attacks that we expected to have after the press conference last Thursday. However, I am going to write this blog because what I've seen in multiple forums about the press conference is absolutely disgusting. When people are acting as civil adults, we can have an educated conversation about what happened, what was accomplished and what is planning on being accomplished VERY SOON by having this coalition. On the other hand, when people jump to conclusions because they don't know what's happening, make assumptions, and they start treating each other with such disrespect, there is no possibility of understanding one another. Hence the reason this Coalition was formed in the first place. The tactics that have been used to push the bills for cannabis in Utah thus far have been nothing but bullying, hatred, fear, and negativity. There has been nothing positive that I've seen or participated in up until 8/23/18. There were people from all different backgrounds with completely different views on cannabis as was clearly evidenced by the comments that were made at the press conference. The purpose wasn't to join together a bunch of people that agree with each other and form a coalition because that would be nonsense. The purpose was to get people from every perspective to come together to educate one another and learn from each other so that there can be a real solution and not another Band-Aid as has been done in so many other states already. you can sit there and say that you've tried that tactic in the past, but their ears were not open until now. They were set in their ways and you were set in your ways and that is not how progress is made.
We have lived as criminals hiding in the shadows in a state where it's illegal. We have lived the experience of getting arrested and having Child Protective Services trying to take our children away for using a medicine that helps better than anything else available without all the side effects. We know what that feels like better than most people because we've lived it. Then we came to Colorado and we thought we finally had our freedom. Granted, it is much better than living in an illegal state, it doesn't mean that it's actually free to consume cannabis as it should be.
It has been legal in Colorado for years, even more than a decade for medicinal cannabis. Yet we still can't go to a doctor on a regular basis and have them document the progress made as a result of using cannabis versus other medicines because the medical professionals here practice traditional medicine as much as they do anywhere else because they haven't had anyone trying to educate them about cannabis. There is a handful of them that do and they are preoccupied with getting medical cards for those that need it and so we get to see them once a year in order to renew her medical card. That is not the type of medical service that one expects from the medical professions. Patients still have to be concerned every time they get in the car because if they get pulled over and the police find out that they have a medical cannabis card then they can just as easily find a bogus claim to arrest them and then do a drug test and see that there's THC in their blood since it stays there for much longer than the effects of THC stay, and then have child protective services come after them. We have spoken personally with multiple families who have been ripped apart in states where it's legal even when they hold a medical cannabis card because of one CPS worker that doesn't understand. Would that happen with any other medication? Everybody knows the answer to that. Patients still can't take their necessary medication across any state line without fear of being arrested for being Federal criminals because everything that's been done in the country thus far, as helpful as it has been in those States, has been like putting many Band-Aids on a very serious condition.
Doing what has been done in other states is not the solution. Until we can bring everyone to the table for a real resolution that can stand as the standard and example for the nation to follow, these problems will never be resolved. Until we can educate the medical professionals of the benefits of medical cannabis and educate the law enforcement agencies, these problems will not go away. Not even if you leave your career, your friends, your family, and everything you've known your entire life to live in Colorado or any other legal state. I think I'm a pretty credible Source, being that we have experienced that very thing.
If the people trolling online would sit back and look at what was actually accomplished yesterday, they would see how amazing it was. Look at the people and organizations who stood up there and publicly announced that cannabis has medical benefits. Think about that for a minute and then think about if that was possible 6 months ago using the tactics of fear and Division and ostracizing them from the conversation.
For those of you that know my wife personally and have seen her undying dedication to helping patients that need access to medical cannabis, not only in Utah but around the whole entire world, you should be ashamed of yourself for some of the comments that you've made. For those of you that don't know her and are making ridiculously absurd comparisons and accusations, you should think before you speak. We have not gained one penny for any of the advocacy that we have ever done. We have never asked for money for any of the advocacy that we have done. We have never expected money for advocating nor will we ever expect money for advocating. We are not a self-serving entity looking to get rich. We are a family with a medical cannabis refugee who has struggled more than I ever imagined struggling in life to try to make a new life in a place where we knew nobody and we have seen problems that I never even knew existed before these experiences. For those of you that have genuine questions and are looking to understand, we appreciate you and we will try to have a conversation with each one of you because that's what the Coalition is about.
The fact that anyone would be surprised that we, as active members of the LDS church, would side with our prophet and other leaders of the church, is appalling... ESPECIALLY WHEN THE STATEMENT THEY MADE WAS THAT THEY AREN'T OPPOSED TO MEDICAL CANNABIS! What purpose would we have to be members of a church and go serve every week and throughout each week, and pay tithing, and all the other things that pertain to the church, if we aren't willing to follow what we believe to be Revelation from God as given through the prophet? My wife has said from the very beginning of using cannabis, in fact since before she started using cannabis, that if she were to lose her temple recommend over this then she would rather be dead. This is not new. Her faith is stronger than the bands of death.
We are not trying to obligate anyone to believe as we do. You have every right to believe as you please. We also do. Enedina and I have never supported proposition 2. Her statement was nothing new. She said the same things at that press conference that I've heard her say to those that are running the proposition multiple times. They are the same things that we told those same people when we were pushing for sb73 three years ago. We have always believed the only solution that would create real, positive change was to bring everyone to the table (even those we don't agree with) and educate each other. Because, believe it or not, one side may know something of truth that the other doesn’t, and their concerns are valid even if some of the things they say aren't in agreement with our view. All voices should work together to develop a solution. Our position has not changed one bit. We have always been medical cannabis advocates who believe in getting the best possible medicine as soon as possible to all those patients who would benefit from it. Sitting at a table with people who disagree with us does not change that. Passing a bill in Utah would fail within a couple of years, at least, if it was passed without getting at least some support from law enforcement and medical professionals. The same thing would happen that happened to the last initiative which was passed in Utah about asset forfeiture protection. It would be ignored, worked around, or repealed. The fact that anybody would be upset that all of these organizations have agreed to have a civil conversation and work together to find a real solution that works for both patients and all the other organizations confuses me beyond all reason.
To all those who have the right intention and have put many hours and dollars into the Band-Aid solution that has been presented over the past couple of years, I'm sorry but the real solution is not a Band-Aid. The real solution is what is happening now, that wasn't possible even in the recent past until after all of the work that has been going on to coordinate all of these different groups and has not been publicized until now.
Now is the time to put away our grudges and find a real solution. Now is the time to come together. Now is the time to make a change!
