EXCLUSIVE: Shurtleff was "tempted" to use medical marijuana

I aM a siNglg MotHeR of tWo, I currently liVe iN Utah usiNg MediciNal. I was boRn NoN~SyNthetic aNd caN't haVe it my body. It's what alMost killed me iN early wiNter of '2010 SeekiNg guidaNce fRoM tHe LDS Church, I receiVed missionary discussions twice for eNtiRe year while liViNg out of a suitcase aWay fRoM my children iN California. I haVe also paid tithing to tHe Church without beiNg a current meMber. I had no choice but to moVe away fRoM my kids due to health aNd medicine aNd was advised by tHe Church to do so. tHe LDS Church iN California said I needed to be back iN Utah with my kids for my well~beiNg. I agree but had no choice to be iN Cali to begin with. The Church has known about me for a little oVer a year now. Back iN Utah seNse April, 5 Bishops fRoM 3 States aRe iNvolVed aNd aWaRe of this. I haVe witnessed fiRst haNd meMembers of tHe LDS church use Medicinal for medicine aNd hold a meMberships in Idaho wHeRe it's illegal to use. I haVe doNe eVeRytHiNg that tHe GoVeRmeNt aNd Church haVe asked of me to do. It is my legal right as a motHer to liVe with children aNd be able to woRk. I was told I could be Baptized heRe iN Layton Utah oN June 4th '2011 aNd was quickly shut doWn by tHe Bishop aNd Stake Pres. they told me I had to move back to CalifoRnia but I was just tHeRe woRkiNg with tHe Church doiNg tHe saMe tHiNg. My health is decliNiNg aNd all I waNt to do is be baptized aNd haVe 'MotHeR Rights' I coNtiNue to struggle to woRk for food aNd medicine aNd to provide. The law knows that I aM heRe, so does tHe Church. As of today this moMeNt, I aM coMpletely out of resources with $13.00 to my naMe aNd all I waNt is tHe right to liVe... kAtiE fRoM Utah www.poeticgarden.com 801.232.9078

Im very happy about Mark's new attitude about marijuana. I also believe if he had an opportunity to have used cannabis for medicine, he would see how harmless cannabis is and would possibly be in favor of full legalization!

Jesus said to do unto others as we would have them to do unto us. None of us would want our child thrown in jail with the sexual predators over marijuana. None of us would want to see an older family member’s home confiscated and sold by the police for growing a couple of marijuana plants for their aches and pains. It’s time to stop putting our own family members in jail over marijuana.

I watched my father die of cancer from age 10 -17. He was allowed to take morphine and cocaine (in a liquid form at that time). If it helps it should be allowed. Now if only Mr. Shurtleff could understand those who don't have the means/friends/family necessary to pay the balance on their medical bills from cancer, etc. Hopefully he won't have to file for bankruptcy like many of his constituents.

So what Mr. Shurtleff is saying is that now that he has walked in the shoes of his constituents, he understands. Perhaps you should take that approach more often instead of basing an opinion on assumptions. This society continues to repress marijuana use as a gateway to other problems. Yet we continue to blindly look away at the abuse of "legal" prescription drugs. Marijuana is not the evil that the U.S. government has sold through their propaganda for almost 100 years. It has been proven time and again to be effective for the treatment of many medical issues and is a huge opportunity for tax revenue to our state as well. Unfortunately, I think it would take the entire Chorum of the 70 getting cancer before the state of Utah would truly look at legalizing it. Get well Mr. Shurtleff. The people need more representatives with a little bit of life perspective instead of their own religious views and values being crammed down our throats.

I would have smoked some.

If your willing to take a pill for it, something that was synthesized in a lab, then why wouldn't you accept the idea that something that grows naturally and was used for hundreds of years by many cultures for medicinal purposes can help people effectively, cheaply and safely. We need to break free of big pharmaceutical companies and anti drug organizations demonizing Medical Marijuana

Mr. State Attorney General, Under prescribed use, and MEDICAL CONSTRAINTS, "Medical Marijuana" use SHOULD be ALLOWED within Utah. You stated this in your own release. I can't appreciate your position since I've never been there myself. I can only hope you're own personal experience will open your eyes to the MANY others of your fate that aren't so well off...