Legislators' votes are tallied as they pass medical marijuana bill on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. (Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah State Senator, Todd Weiler, thinks the lawsuit over Proposition 2 is really just a “sham” after former Salt Lake Mayor, Rocky Anderson, helped two groups file a lawsuit against the state over the replacement law on medical marijuana.
“What I think this lawsuit is really about, is once it’s filed, Rocky [Anderson] will be able to subpoena emails and text messages. I think it’s a fishing expedition. They want to find a smoking gun or embarrassing email that proves their point,” said Weiler.
Anderson was very vocal about his stance on Twitter, saying that lawmakers and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints interfered with the people’s rights to pass laws.
“Now is the time for all good Utah citizens to take a stand for the people’s right to pass laws by initiative without interference by the Governor or the Legislature,” Anderson wrote.
The lawsuit says the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had an unfair influence over the legislature, and also says lawmakers should not have thrown out the will of the people.
But Weiler told KSL Newsradio’s Dave and Dujanovic Show that many people were told that the law would be fixed after it passed.
“The question really becomes, what was the will of the people. Was it every word of Prop 2, or was it, we want Utah to legalize medical marijuana. I believe it was the latter.”
Weiler says many states say the legislature can repeal, amend or throw out a citizens initiative.
“I think people elect their representatives to do a deep dive on these issues, to study it, and to do something responsible. I think the compromise bill does a much better job than Prop 2 did,” he said.
Hear his conversation with Ethan Millard on Thursday’s show below.