Title:
Our 2010 plan - and how you can help
Message:
On February 4, 2010, the legislature convened for the second half of its biennial session, and MPP is continuing our battle to protect Minnesota's sick and suffering patients. As you know, during the first half of the current session, in 2009, the full Senate and the full House — for the first time ever — passed a medical marijuana bill. Unfortunately, Governor Tim Pawlenty heartlessly vetoed it.
Because Governor Pawlenty has announced that he is not seeking re-election in 2010, and because we don't want to give him the “pleasure” of vetoing another bill to help seriously ill Minnesotans, our focus has shifted to 2011. There are several things that you can do to help.
1. We intend to do everything in our power to ensure that a supportive governor is in office when the next legislative session begins in January 2011. Therefore, during the 2010 campaign, MPP will be pressuring our gubernatorial candidates to take strong, public, positive positions on medical marijuana. If you are a patient, a medical professional, or a supporter with a compelling story to share and you are interested in attending campaign events to question candidates on this issue, please contact us.
2. We must not let our legislators forget how important this issue is to Minnesotans. We urge our supporters to continue contacting their senators and representatives about this issue throughout the year and to write letters to the editor. Please don't forget to thank your legislator if he or she voted for passage of the medical marijuana bill last year. For a full list, click here.
3. Please encourage your friends and family to visit our Web site to sign up for MPPs free e-mail alerts. We use our e-mail alerts to notify our supporters about when and how they can best help ensure that a medical marijuana bill is enacted in Minnesota. The larger our list is, the more pressure we will be able to put on our elected representatives when it is needed.
Although our primary focus is now on 2011, there is still some hope for an effective medical marijuana law before the current session adjourns. MPP is meeting with law enforcement to answer their questions and learn about their objections. If law enforcement works with us in good faith, we may be able to introduce a bill that Governor Pawlenty will sign. We will be sure to keep you updated on any developments.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in this effort. We have moved the bar significantly, and it's only a matter of time before we have an effective medical marijuana law on the books in Minnesota.
