Utah state Senator Mark Madsen is a bit wacky. He once proposed a day commemorating John Browning, a Utah native who made his bones pioneering guns, on Martin Luther King Jr. day. But Madsen has stepped up to the plate to do what is right by his constituents and going against his own church’s wishes (Madsen is a devout Mormon):
Utah Senator Mark Madsen said fighting old perceptions about pot have made his efforts to legalize medical marijuana an uphill battle. Then came another hurdle Friday when the Mormon Church said it opposed his bill.
Still, Madsen, who is Mormon, said he won't back down because polls show most Utah residents support the proposed law. Plus, people with serious medical conditions could really use the pain relief.
The Mormon Church’s official statement said that legalizing medical marijuana could have “unintended consequences” with no further elaboration. State Senator Madsen says that is too vague a sentiment to reverse his position.
Madsen said every time he's tried to meet with church leaders to discuss his bill, he gets a vague response. He'd love to sit down with them an discuss all the research in support of the legislation.
He said if the LDS Church, which has a big influence on Utah culture and politics wants to weigh in on an issue, they should say more.
Good luck, Mr. Madsen. I probably do not agree with you on most things, but on this subject and on this sentiment, you and I are on the same page.