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  Over Police Objections, House OKs MMJ Bill
Posted by CN Staff on March 20, 2007 at 06:52:25 PT
By Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune 
Source: Star-Tribune 

medical Minnesota -- A bill to allow the medical use of marijuana cleared one of its major hurdles late Monday, passing a House public safety committee where law enforcement officials made their strongest appeal yet to defeat the measure.

The bill would allow a doctor to prescribe medical marijuana to a patient but would not legalize its use, creating a hazy area where state and federal laws conflict.

The House Public Safety and Civil Law Committee approved the bill by an 11-8 vote after an amendment was added taking away a provision that would have allowed individual patients to grow their own marijuana. Under the amended bill, only sanctioned nonprofit organizations would be permitted to grow up to 12 plants and 2.5 ounces per patient. The individual plant provision remains in a Senate version of the bill but supporters have said they are interested in a compromise to make the bill more palatable to law enforcement.

Several law enforcement organizations testified against the bill, saying marijuana remains prohibited by federal law, that other prescribed medications can perform the same functions and that relaxing laws on marijuana use will send the wrong message, particularly to youth.

Any benefit to a small group is "overshadowed by the potential for societal harm," said Buffalo Police Chief Mitch Weinzetl, also representing the state's police chiefs' association.

Eleven other states have enacted medical marijuana bills and New Mexico is poised to approve similar legislation.

The Minnesota bill would permit patients to use marijuana through a doctor's orders. They would be certified and registered by the Minnesota Department of Health.

The bill occupies a unique place in the political spectrum. One of its chief authors in the House is Republican Steve Sviggum of Kenyon, and it has the support of several other conservative legislators. Rep. Chris DeLaForest, R-Andover, for instance, voted for the measure in committee. DFL Rep. John Lesch, a St. Paul city prosecutor, voted against it. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is opposed to the measure.

During the committee hearing, one legislator pulled out a bag full of fish oil, vitamins, over-the-counter joint anti-inflammatories and anti-prostate cancer medications as examples of products not approved by the Food and Drug Administration but often recommended by physicians.

"We need to talk outside the box a little bit," said Rep. Leon Lillie, DFL-North St. Paul.

Note: The bill to allow use of the illegal drug for medical reasons is supported by some conservatives.

Complete Title: Over Police Objections, House Committee OKs Medical Marijuana Bill

SF345: http://tinyurl.com/3b475z

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Author: Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune
Published: March 20, 2007
Copyright: 2007 Star Tribune
Contact: opinion@startribune.com
Website: http://www.startribune.com/

Related Articles:

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http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22729.shtml

Medical Marijuana May Soon Be Reality
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22706.shtml

Making MJ Legal for Medical Use Gains Support
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22674.shtml


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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on March 20, 2007 at 19:40:50 PT
Police seem evil.
Police send the wrong message to children.

And children get to know that fact.

The prohibitionist actions of police have negative consequences later in childrens lives.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #4 posted by Toker00 on March 20, 2007 at 14:50:36 PT
Societal Harm?
Any benefit to a small group is "overshadowed by the potential for societal harm," said Buffalo Police Chief Mitch Weinzetl, also representing the state's police chiefs' association.

Cannabis is illegal, but 20-30 million people use it every year in the United States. Where is the Societal Harm? If the potential is there, then where is the harm from all these cannabis users?!? Where are the stories on CNN and ETC. about people going mad or our society crumbling (It's crumbling, but that's not cannabis's fault!) from people using cannabis? I haven't heard or seen any convictions based on cannabis being the direct cause of that crime, or harm. I'll tell you where the harm is. It is in prisons and forced rehab centers where SOCIETY puts people who use cannabis, the REAL harm coming FROM SOCIETY, not being done TO it. It's in the hospitals and nursing homes where our Families and our Heritage sit in excruciating pain and agony and despair and loneliness because our SOCIETY has to be protected from itself from something that does no harm at all. And besides. Cannabis could only be GOOD for a society so rooted in lies and hate and ignorance.

Toke.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #3 posted by OverwhelmSam on March 20, 2007 at 13:51:54 PT
Why Are Police Objecting
There is something fundamentally wrong with law enforcement influencing the law, not that they have much success.

Great news for Minnisota! Let's see, that's two states so far this year, going for five, can't wait until we tip 30.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #2 posted by doc james on March 20, 2007 at 12:27:06 PT
new states realizing
their unforgiving ways and beginning to have a bit of compassion with a bit of common sense

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #1 posted by dongenero on March 20, 2007 at 07:33:58 PT
great tactic in MMJ - FDA arguments
During the committee hearing, one legislator pulled out a bag full of fish oil, vitamins, over-the-counter joint anti-inflammatories and anti-prostate cancer medications as examples of products not approved by the Food and Drug Administration but often recommended by physicians.

"We need to talk outside the box a little bit," said Rep. Leon Lillie, DFL-North St. Paul.

Excellent tactic! This is exactly the way to approach comments about medicine always having to be endorsed and controlled by the FDA.

[ Post Comment ]


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