cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Bill on Its Way To House Vote Medical Marijuana Bill on Its Way To House Vote Posted by CN Staff on April 09, 2008 at 14:01:38 PT By Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune Source: Star-Tribune Minnesota -- The bill, which passed the House Ways and Means Committee easily on Wednesday, would not legalize marijuana. But it would allow patients who qualify to possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and to receive similar amounts on a regular basis from groups set up to dispense the drug.The measure passed the Minnesota Senate last year but did not receive a vote in the House. The effort at getting medical marijuana approved in Minnesota has been more than 10 years in the making and most recently has seen growing support among Republicans who previously might have been expected to oppose to it.Rep. Chris DeLaForest, R-Andover, is a cosponsor of the House bill and predicted bipartisan support for its passage."To me, this is the ultimate conservative issue," DeLaForest said following the vote. "It's about keeping the government out of the doctor/patient relationship."The vote in the House committee occurred without debate or questions being asked, but it can be expected to generate controversy during debate on the House floor, which is expected within the next few weeks.The measure requires patients to register and have a card issued by the Minnesota Department of Health. Non-profits can be established to grow and distribute the medical marijuana with up to 12 plants per patient.Gov. Tim Pawlenty has sympathized with objections to the proposal from law-enforcement groups, and a spokesman reiterated on Wednesday that he would veto a bill establishing medical marijuana if it does not contain provisions that are palatable to the law-enforcement community."Governor Pawlenty stands with law enforcement in opposition to this bill," said spokesman Brian McClung. The state statute would be in conflict with federal law, which makes the possession of marijuana illegal. Doctors would recommend medical marijuana to patients but would not actually prescribe it under the bill. Twelve other states have medical-marijuana laws. Such bills are now under consideration in Illinois and New York, and an initiative is expected to appear on Michigan's November ballot.Note: A bill that would allow some patients in Minnesota to use medical marijuana was resurrected on Wednesday.Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN) Author: Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune Published: April 9, 2008Copyright: 2008 Star Tribune Contact: opinion startribune.com Website: http://www.startribune.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 09, 2008 at 19:01:01 PT Bill Allowing Marijuana Use for Ill Patients Bill Allowing Marijuana Use for Ill Patients Passes CommitteeBy Rachel E. Stassen-Berger April 9, 2008Minnesota -- A bill to allow critically ill patients to use marijuana is again awaiting a Minnesota House floor vote. On a 13-4 vote, the measure passed the House Ways & Means Committee today. The bill is a hold over from last year — the full Senate has already approved it so it needs only a House vote to reach Gov. Tim Pawlenty's desk. House sponsor Rep. Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth, said vote will happen in the coming weeks and would likely be close. The measure has both Democratic and Republican supporters and opponents. In the House committee today, Rep. Chris DeLaForest, R-Andover, said he was proud to support the measure. URL: http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_8866591 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by RevRayGreen on April 09, 2008 at 16:42:01 PT please please Minnesota..........PRAISE JAH........ [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 09, 2008 at 14:17:40 PT AP: Minn. House To Vote On Medical Marijuana Bill Wednesday, April 09, 2008 ST. PAUL -- A proposal allowing patients with cancer and other debilitating illnesses to use marijuana has cleared its final legislative committee.The 13-4 vote by the House Ways and Means Committee means the bill's next stop is the House floor.URL: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D8VUHDU84 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 09, 2008 at 14:15:17 PT Marijuana Bill Nears House Vote By Don Davis, Minn. State Capitol Bureau Thursday, April 10, 2008 ST. PAUL – More than 10,000 seriously ill Minnesotans could control pain with marijuana legally if a bill headed to the full House becomes law. The House Ways and Means Committee voted 13-4, with 12 members absent, Wednesday to advance the measure. But Gov. Tim Pawlenty is likely to veto it if the House passes the measure.URL: http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/politics/index.cfm?page=article_bureau&id=42639&legislative_tag=1 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment