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SALT LAKE CITY — Ron McBride, former football coach at the University of Utah and Weber State University, joined a state lawmaker Wednesday to voice support for a bill that would legalize medical cannabis in Utah.
"To me, this is a no-brainer," said McBride, who described how family members and friends — including a niece with multiple sclerosis — have benefitted from medical cannabis.
"It's just stupid if we don't pass this bill," he said.
Saratoga Springs Republican Sen. Mark Madsen, the sponsor of the hotly debated proposal to legalize medical cannabis in Utah, brought McBride to speak at the Capitol as part of an effort to marshal support for his measure, which goes up for debate Friday.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came out against Madsen's bill earlier this month. The church raised no objections to a competing bill, SB89, sponsored by Sen. Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City.
Vickers' bill is more restrictive in which patients can access medical cannabis and which marijuana compounds are permitted in medications.
At the center of the debate is THC, one of the roughly 80 active chemicals in marijuana, which gives users the "high" associated with marijuana.
The Utah Medical Association backs the Vickers bill and has stated that more research is needed into THC.
But many patients say that Vickers' bill is too limited and that THC provides medical benefit for certain conditions that other compounds do not.
Dr. David Barton, a pain management physician in Hawaii who flew to Utah to support Madsen's bill, said medications that restrict the level of THC or other cannabinoids don't work for his patients.
"It doesn't do anything clinically," Barton said. "It's like taking a Benadryl."
On Tuesday, a group of patients and caregivers said they would take the issue to Utahns directly if Madsen's bill fails in the Utah Legislature.
Christine Stenquist, executive director of Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education, said patients can't wait for lawmakers to get comfortable with the idea of medical cannabis.
Gov. Gary Herbert said Wednesday he hopes the issue can be settled in the Legislature.
"I think there's energy out there on this medical marijuana issue, and I think the discussion is timely," Herbert said. "I'm hopeful something positive will come out of this session and maybe stay the need for an initiative petition."
Herbert raised concerns that ballot initiatives may not be properly vetted but said he supports the process as "an optional way to get things done."
A UtahPolicy poll released Wednesday shows that 64 percent of Utahns support legalizing medical cannabis — a figure that pollsters Dan Jones & Associates say has grown since a survey released in December. Back then, UtahPolicy found 61 percent of Utahns favored medical marijuana legalization.
The most recent survey was administered in the days following the LDS Church's first statement. It asked Utahns whether they "favor or oppose legalizing medical marijuana prescribed by licensed doctors."
Thirty-three percent said they opposed it and 64 percent favored it. Three percent said they don't know.
Republicans appear split over medical cannabis, with 49 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed.
Those who described themselves as "very active" in the LDS Church were also split. UtahPolicy reported that 48 percent favor legalization and 49 percent opposed it.
Democrats were overwhelmingly in favor of medical cannabis legalization, with 95 percent signaling support. Independents were also largely in favor with 72 percent in favor.
Both medical cannabis bills will be debated on the Senate floor Friday.
Madsen said he's considering changes to his proposal, including striking a provision that permits patients to have access to the marijuana plant itself. That would make it easier to regulate the medication's potency but would make some patients unhappy, he said.
"If it's important to get votes, then we have some things we can do," Madsen said. "There are other things we can't do."
Madsen said he remains optimistic but acknowledged the vote on his bill will be tight. "There's no doubt the future is uncertain," he said.
Contributing: Andrew Adams, Lisa Riley Roche
