cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Passes Senate Committee 





Medical Marijuana Passes Senate Committee 
Posted by CN Staff on March 05, 2009 at 13:13:36 PT
By Andy Birkey 
Source: Minnesota Independent
MN -- Minnesota’s medical marijuana bill passed a key committee in the Minnesota Senate on Tuesday. The bill was heard in the Judiciary Committee where law enforcement concerns were aired. Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, the bill’s author, spelled out a series of stringent regulations that have been added to the bill this year, while law enforcement offered much of the same testimony that’s been heard before.
The bill passed the committee 4 to 3. “I am increasingly confident that this will be the year that Minnesota joins the 13 other states that have acted to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest,” Murphy said of the bill’s passage. “This is an issue where science, compassion and simple commonsense come together.”In the hearing, Murphy offered a litany of ways the bill has been changed to appease law enforcement. Marijuana patients have a cultivation limit of 12 plants and plants must be kept in a locked facility. The definition of “intractable pain” is defined in state statute, and as Murphy points out, Minnesota would have “one of the highest thresholds of any state that has a [medical marijuana] provision on the books.”The registration card supplied by the state for medical marijuana must be renewed annually. It would prevent possession of medical marijuana on Department of Corrections property and maintains current law that prohibits possession on school property or church property.The bill increases charges for abuse of the program. It would be a felony for giving or selling medical marijuana to a non-patient, for misuse of the registration card or to possess more marijuana than allowed under the bill. It would be a gross misdemeanor for someone to misrepresent themselves under the program.But those changes haven’t changed the minds of law enforcement officials or the Pawlenty administration. Michael Campion, commissioner of public safety, said, “This administration, since the governor has been elected, has been opposed to this legislation.”Campion said, “There is an absence of medical empirical data that indicates that this product will do what it is intended to do.”He said law enforcement is concerned about the potential for abuse in the program. “From a public safety law enforcement standpoint, there is tremendous incentive for illegal monies to be made from this legislation,” he said. “There is very little regulation. It’s almost impossible to enforce.“If anybody thinks that this piece of legislation won’t increase the use of marijuana in Minnesota, you are kidding yourself,” said Campion.Despite law enforcement protestations, the bill passed the committee and will head to the Senate Finance Committee. The companion bill in the House is expected to be heard in committee next Wednesday.Complete Title: Medical Marijuana Passes Senate Committee Despite Law Enforcement ConcernsSource: Minnesota Independent (MN)Author: Andy BirkeyPublished: March 5, 2009URL: http://drugsense.org/url/CedATBh7Website: http://minnesotaindependent.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by dongenero on March 05, 2009 at 13:57:41 PT
more Campion
But those changes haven’t changed the minds of law enforcement officials or the Pawlenty administration. Michael Campion, commissioner of public safety, said, “This administration, since the governor has been elected, has been opposed to this legislation.”Hmmm, I can think of some changes to suggest. Campion has hit the nail on the head here. Vote 'em out.
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Comment #2 posted by dongenero on March 05, 2009 at 13:53:31 PT
Isn't this the whole point???
“If anybody thinks that this piece of legislation won’t increase the use of marijuana in Minnesota, you are kidding yourself,” said Campion.Yes, it will increase the number of seriously ill people using marijuana. Bravo on the astute observation there Commissioner Campion. That's the point of the bill.Sometimes you just have to shake your head in wonderment.
He was kind enough to share his grand medical expertise as well. Humble he is not.
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on March 05, 2009 at 13:43:16 PT
Jabs.
"Law enforcement offered much of the same testimony that’s been heard before."I feel like that was a jab.-0-"prohibits possession on school property or church property."?Church property? It is interesting and a conflict of interest when God, that is The Ecologician, indicates He created all the seed bearing plants saying they are all good on literally the very 1st page of the Bible, yet churches don't want it near their buildings.-0-Anyway, there are many states which have recently passed the 1st hurdles in re-legalizing cannabis for sick citizens. 3 that come to mind are Minnesota, New Jersey and Illinois.I still think it would be awesome to turn this movement into a race.Which state will be next to win the distinction???Which state will be the 1st to completely re-legalize the superplant?-0-Vegas should make odds.
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