Medical marijuana backers threaten to sue over LDS Church involvement in compromise bill to replace Prop 2

Supporters of Utah’s recently-pbaded medical marijuana initiative are threatening to sue over the involvement of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in legislation expected to replace the initiative approved by voters.

Prop 2 pbaded with 53 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns, but state legislators were expected to replace it with a “compromise bill” in a special session of the state Legislature on Dec. 3.

The group, comprised of Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education, the Utah Epilepsy Foundation, retired paramedic Doug Rice and brain tumor survivor Christine Stenquist — represented by former Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson — sent a letter to Gov. Gary Herbert, several state legislators, the Utah Tax Commission, the Utah Medical Association and lobbyists for the church calling on them to preserve records in the event the group files suit as expected.

“We are investigating a legal challenge to (1) the calling of a special session of the Utah Legislature at the behest of The Church of Jesus Christ; (2) any effort, in collusion with or at the behest of The Church of Jesus Christ, to materially alter the initiative statute supported by a majority of voters who pbaded Proposition 2 in the recent election; and (3) the long-term pattern of domination of the Utah Legislature and the interference in the functions of Utah government by The Church of Jesus Christ,” the letter reads.

Setting forth the basis for the proposed lawsuit, the letter states that “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints … has a long history of dominating and interfering with the government of the state of Utah, often dictating to state and municipal legislators what legislative measures or policies they are to support or oppose. That dominance and interference is prohibited by the Utah Constitution.”

The letter advises the governor, the leaders of the Utah Senate and House and several current and former state senators and representatives — all Republicans — as well as the church’s chief lobbyist and a church spokesman that the groups “expect to obtain from you a number of documents and things, including letters, memoranda, files stored on your computers, and your telephones, including any voice messages, emails, or text messages or other data storage, including records of deletions of data or destruction of documents.”

In addition to Herbert, the letter was sent to the House Speaker Greg Hughes; incoming Senate President Stuart Adams; incoming House Speaker Brad Wilson, Sen. Jerry Stevenson; outgoing Rep. LaVar Christensen; former Sen. Michael Waddoups; Utah Tax Commission Chairman John Valentine; Connor Boyack of the libertarian Libertas Institute; D.J. Schanz with the Utah Patients Coalition; Utah Medical Association CEO Michelle McComber; Director of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel John Cannon — and the LDS Church’s chief lobbyist, former House Speaker Marty Stephens, and church spokesman Michael Purdy.

The Salt Lake Tribune will update this story.