At least one and possibly two senators have abandoned their support of a medical-marijuana bill pending in the Utah Legislature after the LDS Church issued a statement opposing the measure.

The measure’s sponsor, Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs, said his colleagues’ change of heart is a blow to his effort to make Utah the 24th state to legalize medical cannabis, but he hopes there is still time to make the case to senators that the bill is worth passing.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Friday to The Salt Lake Tribune that it officially opposes Madsen’s SB73.

“Along with others, we have expressed concern about the unintended consequences that may accompany the legalization of medical marijuana,” church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in the statement. “We have expressed opposition to Senator Madsen’s bill because of that concern.” [Read more at the Salt Lake Tribune]