Title:
Ask Minn. gubernatorial candidates to support medical marijuana
Message:
In three short weeks, Minnesotans will flock to their local
polling places to elect a new governor, as well as Minnesota’s 87th
Legislature. MPP was on the brink of bringing relief to terminally ill patients
in 2009 when the 86th Legislature passed a medical marijuana bill
through both chambers. Unfortunately, Gov. Pawlenty vetoed the highly
regulated, very narrow, and publicly supported proposal, citing concerns from
law enforcement groups, even though the bill had been amended to address the
concerns that law enforcement had raised.
At MPP, we hope the next governor of the North Star State
demonstrates more compassion and common sense. With this in mind, I’d like to
ask you to contact both DFL Party nominee Mark Dayton and Independence Party nominee Tom Horner to express your support for medical marijuana and ask them to support
common sense legislation as well. Please note that these are two separate
actions, however they will each only take a moment of your time. Also, please
remember to be respectful and courteous as
we are trying to persuade these individuals, not alienate them.
While Mr. Horner has been
largely silent on the issue, Sen. Dayton has
stated that he will support a bill that law enforcement supports. This is very
similar to the position that Gov. Pawlenty took, but major law enforcement
organizations opposed even the most restrictive possible bill. Nonetheless,
it’s vital that Mr. Dayton hear from compassionate Minnesotans so that he may
reconsider his stance. Rep.
Emmer, the Republican candidate for governor, is adamantly opposed to the idea
of medical marijuana. When asked during a Minnesota
Public Radio debate about his position on medical marijuana, Rep. Emmer was quick
to dismiss the idea saying, “no on marijuana. If it were presented as a true
medicine, the vote might've been different.” With that kind of attitude, I will
not ask you to waste your time asking him to show some compassion – for clearly
he won’t.
Please take a minute of your time to call the campaign
offices of both Mark Dayton and Tom Horner. Tell them that you support allowing Minnesota’s
most sick and suffering access to medical marijuana with a doctor’s
recommendation. Ask them to support medical marijuana as well.
Thank you for your time, talents, and energy.
