Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have alleged that Utah’s ballot measure to legalize medicinal marijuana, violates their religious freedom and freedom of speech.
The ballot measure is to legalize medicinal pot for patients who have conditions that include HIV, chronic pain, and epilepsy.
A coalition of anti-cannabis groups that include the Utah Medical Association, the Eagle Forum, and members of Drug Safe Utah, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Walter J. Plumb, a lawyer and active member of The Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints.
The lawsuit takes issue with a provision in Proposition 2 that would prevent landlords from discriminating against tenants who are legal, registered medical cannabis users in Utah.
In their court filing, the group cites a U.S. Supreme Court ruling where a Colorado baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding on the grounds that doing so would violate his religious convictions against homosexuality, won the case.
SCOTUS ruled in the baker’s favor in June and opponents of Prop. 2 hope the legal precedent will work in their favor.
