Page 645 – Family Council

Invitro Heartbreak

Jan 17, 2022John StonestreetBioethicsBioethics, Invitro

Last week, The Wall Street Journal published the heartbreaking story of a 27-year-old man who died from a drug overdose back in 2020. Steven Gunner was conceived through the use of a sperm donor. He also struggled with schizophrenia.

After his death, his mom and adoptive dad reached out to other children who were also fathered by Steven’s donor, in order to let them know that their son’s mental illness may have been genetically inherited.

Their research confirmed that the sperm donor — known to them as just a number — had also suffered from schizophrenia, had also died by a drug overdose, and had not disclosed his mental health issues on health history forms – which American sperm clinics are not required to verify.

The Gunners’ research also revealed that Steven’s father has at least 18 other children.

It’s unknown whether they also inherited schizophrenia from the father, but the Gunners’ tragedy is yet another chapter in the larger story of assisted reproduction: when we rip apart God’s design for families, there is pain in every direction.

How Will This Marijuana PAC Try To Impact Arkansas’ Elections In 2022?

Jan 14, 2022Jerry CoxElections, MarijuanaElections, Marijuana

Last summer the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association quietly launched a political action committee in Arkansas — Grow PAC.

The Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association is a trade association for medical marijuana in Arkansas.

Political action committees (PACs) typically work to elect or defeat candidates for public office. PACs often do that by donating to candidates’ campaigns, by running their own independent campaigns for or against candidates, or by issuing public endorsements for certain candidates.

According to paperwork filed with the State of Arkansas, Grow PAC’s officers are employed by Natural State Medicinals, Abaca, and GrowBrite.

Natural State Medicinals is a marijuana cultivator in Arkansas. Abaca describes itself as a cannabis banking and financial platform. GrowBrite appears to be a compliance and risk management specialist that works with marijuana cultivators and dispensaries.

All of this raises a question: How will Grow PAC try to impact Arkansas’ elections in 2022?

According to its website, Grow PAC’s purpose is to support political candidates who “will work to create and maintain a favorable political climate for the cannabis industry” in Arkansas.

The website also indicates that the PAC will provide financial support for candidates who support Arkansas’ marijuana industry.

As the state enters another election season, Arkansans need to be prepared for the marijuana industry to work hard to elect candidates who support marijuana.

Marijuana is a multimillion dollar business, and corporations that buy, sell, and grow marijuana have a lot of money that they can spend campaigning for candidates who align with their values.