Now that the debate season is over, my one regret (apart from how disengaged President Obama was in Round #1) is that no one asked Mittens a question about his stance on medical (or other) marijuana. More after the tangerine fillip...
The Latter Day Saints movement has three (count 'em 3!) books of scripture, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
The D&C provides a venue for ongoing revelation and prophetic utterances, as it is a living scripture to which new additions may be made.
Mormons eschewment of strong/hot drink and tobacco are set forth in detail in § 89 of Doctrine and Covenants:
... inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good . . . again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. . . And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill. . . And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
Pretty clear: strong drink (alcohol), tobacco and hot drinks (caffeinated coffee or tea) are bad. HOWEVER, the next verses are pretty interesting, and given the closeness of the election, might provide Mittens with the key were he bold enough to use it:
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
Yeah, that's right, you read it here on Kos first . . . the sacred herb was vouchesafed by none other than Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, 27 February 1833.
Quibble as one might, it is going to be hard to demonstrate that a simple herb which is dispensed for medical purposes in many of these United States is NOT a wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man.
So, my question is, were Mitt to follow his doctrinal mandate and come out foursquare in favor of legalization of marijuana at the Federal level . . . could that positively impact his campaign?