Utah's Talk Radio 105.9 KNRS invites you to be part of a live radio town hall meeting on the pros and cons of medical marijuana in Utah. Rod Arquette and Abby Bonell will host this town hall taking place on Thursday, September 7th at 6pm at the KNRS studios. Join our live studio audience (info below).
Have you made up your mind yet?
Signatures are being gathered now to put the issue before voters in November 2018. Does more research need to be done before it's approved or should Utah voters join the growing list of states passing the controversial issue?
We'll have a panel of experts ready to answer questions from our listeners and live studio audience.
ATTEND THE TOWN HALL: plan to arrive no later than 5:45pm on Sept 7th
If you would like to join the live studio audience, plan to arrive no later than 5:45pm on Sept 7th at the iHeartMedia building at 2801 S. Decker Lake Drive in West Valley (North of the Maverik Center). Space is limited but we invite you to join us.
Michelle McOmber, MBA, CAE - CEO, Utah Medical Association
Michelle McOmber is the CEO of the Utah Medical Association. The Utah Medical Association has represented Utah physicians and patients for over 120 years. Michelle has been with the Association for just over thirteen years. She has extensive experience in health care and with health care issues in working with physicians and patients. Michelle has had more than twenty-five years work and varied leadership positions in numerous organizations representing many different aspects of health care in Utah from the patient and the provider perspective, including time spent working in ambulatory care and clinics at the University of Utah Hospital and Clinics. She has been recognized and received awards from various groups for her contributions.
In addition to serving on many community and national Boards, Michelle has also participated with, and continues to participate on, many committees and task forces that deal with health care needs and issues in Utah and the nation including insurance coverage for patients, access to health care, types of available care, a national opioid reduction task force, and many others.
Outside of work responsibilities, Michelle is also very involved with the volunteer program of JustServe and in working to bring the community together in the volunteer efforts needed around Utah, particularly in the Sandy area. Michelle is married and the mother of four children.
Connor Boyack - President of Libertas Institute
Connor Boyack is president of Libertas Institute, a free market think tank in Utah. In that capacity, he has spearheaded a number of successful policy reforms in areas such as education reform, civil liberties, government transparency, food freedom, business deregulation, and more. Connor is also president of The Association for Teaching Kids Economics, a nationally focused nonprofit training teachers on basic economic principles so they are empowered and motivated to help their students learn more about the free market. An author of 12 books, Connor is best known for The Tuttle Twins books, a children’s series introducing young readers to economic, political, and civic principles. Connor lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife and two homeschooled children.
Steven R. Watt - Ogden Police Chief
Since retiring from the Ogden Police department in 2011, Chief Watt operated a successful consulting and training company. Clients included private and public corporations, military units, as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Specializing in Strategic Leadership and Organizational Design, Chief Watt helped his clients improve operations, create effective organizational cultures, and build exceptional teams. A sought-after motivational speaker, Chief Watt has spoken to numerous civic organizations, schools, law enforcement associations, and corporate entities. He has published numerous articles on leadership and has registered copyrights and trademarks on key leadership literature and processes. He was recently profiled for his leadership skills by a Master’s Degree cohort at the University of Southern California’s (USC) Price School of Public Policy. He is the Chairman of the Board for Hand In Hand Outdoors/American Heroes Project, a charitable non-profit for Disabled Veterans and Children.He is has spent the last 8 months enhancing training, accountability and leadership within the Ogden Police Department. He is actively engaged in the community and is key in fostering partnerships.
Christine Stenquist - Founder or TRUCE, Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education
Christine Stenquist is a brain tumor survivor, mother of four, turned cannabis advocate. In 1996, she was diagnosed with an Acoustic Neuroma a rare benign tumor. An unsuccessful surgery left 60% of the tumor still intact. Due to complications during the surgery Christine was unable to rejoin the workforce and had to file for disability. Over the course of the next 16 years she would have other diagnoses added to the list. The decline in health left her housebound and bedridden a good part of two decades. In 2012, her health declined rapidly. She turned once again to her doctor for help. This time inquiring about cannabis. Through her own research, she eventually tried cannabis and found it mitigated her symptoms that had kept her trapped in stagnation for so long.
Knowing there wasn’t safe legal access to medical cannabis in Utah she started advocating in the state. Realizing the need for patient lobbyist and cannabis education she started the nonprofit TRUCE, Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education. A group of patients, caregivers, and supporters from all different political and religious affiliations advocating for a common cause.
Her passion for the cause took her to Washington D.C. where she continued to raise awareness for patient access. For her advocacy work she received American’s for Safe Access (ASA) Courage award and The Liberty Cap from Libertas Institute.
Her current focus is continuing to educate the community about Cannabis and the laws surrounding its illegality. She hopes to empower others like her to get involved and become self-advocates.