Governor Pawlenty has vetoed the medical marijuana bill
Last update: October 16, 2009
Before the legislature adjourned for the year, the medical marijuana bill was passed by the full Senate and the full House for the first time. Despite unprecedented progress in the legislature, the sick and dying patients of Minnesota will have to wait for a compassionate medical marijuana law because Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) vetoed the very limited the bill that reached his desk.
Despite this unfortunate turn of events, the battle to protect Minnesota's sick and suffering patients is far from over. It is now clear that Governor Pawlenty is the only person in Minnesota that stands in the way of a medical marijuana law. Fortunately there is a way that Governor Pawlenty can be removed from the process — a constitutional amendment. For this reason, MPP is exploring the possibility of working with the legislature to have a constitutional amendment placed on the November 2010 ballot.
MPP like to thank all of the courageous patients, doctors, nurses, and ordinary Minnesotans who testified on behalf of the bill, signed statements of principle, sent e-mails, and made phone calls. In particular, we'd like to thank Joni Whiting, Kathy Rippentrop, K.K. Forss, Don Haumant, Dr. George Wagoner, Norm Stamper, Kendra Miller, Ron Oveson, Robert Youcha, Neil Haugerud, Jerry and Carmen Peterson, Roy Sandstrom, Harold Nicol, James Wellman, Matthew Brozen, Darrell Paulen, Shannon Pakonen, Dr. Todd Handel, Dr. Greg Carter and Shelley Anklan. Your bravery, sacrifice, tenacity, and compassion are inspiring to all of us.
We would also like to thank Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) for taking the lead on this critical issue in the Senate, along with co-sponsors Sens. Geoff Michel (R-Edina), Debbie Johnson (R-Ham Lake), Linda Higgins (DFL-Minneapolis), and John Marty (DFL-Roseville); and our House author Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia), along with all 28co-authors. And finally, we thank all 105 legislators who voted for passage of the medical marijuana bill (for a full list, click here).
Thank you again to everyone who participated in this effort. We have moved the bar significantly, and it's only a matter of time until we have an effective medical marijuana law on the books in Minnesota. For more information on the effort to pass medical marijuana legislation in Minnesota, please visit www.MinnesotaCares.org.
Recent history
During the 2007-2008 legislative session, MPP's lobbying effort led to unprecedented progress in the legislature and the court of public opinion. The medical marijuana bill passed the Senate at the beginning of Minnesota's biennial session, with the endorsement of the Minnesota Nurses Association, the Minnesota Public Health Association, the Minnesota AIDS Project, the Minnesota Senior Federation, and hundreds of doctors and thousands of nurses who signed statements of support. Recent polling has shown more than 2-to-1 support among Minnesotans. More than 10,000 Minnesotans contacted their state representatives in support of the bill, and a series of TV ads featuring Minnesota patients ran for weeks.
Tremendous progress was made during the 2007-2008 legislative session. Prior to this session, no medical marijuana bill had passed a single House committee, while we passed out of five. As a May 2008 SurveyUSA poll demonstrates, MPP's lobbying effort made a significant impact on the electorate.
Patient profiles
Because of the state House's inaction last year, thousands of patients continue to suffer. Some live in fear of arrest, and are sometimes prosecuted and convicted. Others are too fearful or law-abiding to break state law and suffer needlessly because the medicine they know would work best is not allowed in their state.
You can watch several of these patients talk about how medical marijuana helps their conditions.
Are you a patient?
If you are a patient with a serious medical condition who could benefit from medical marijuana, or a supportive medical professional, please e-mail info@minnesotacares.org to get involved.
Stay up to date
During the last several years, we have moved the bar significantly, and it's only a matter of time until we have an effective medical marijuana law on the books in Minnesota. Please subscribe to our free legislative alert service if you haven't already done so.
