Thank you to everyone for your hard work and support

Despite unprecedented progress in the legislature and the court of public opinion, the sick and dying patients of Minnesota will have to wait until next legislative session for a compassionate medical marijuana law. While S.F. 345, the medical marijuana bill, passed the Senate last year, it did not come up for a vote on the House floor before the legislature adjourned on Monday.

Despite this unfortunate turn of events, no one should lose sight of the tremendous progress that was made. Prior to this session, no medical marijuana bill had passed a single House committee. S.F 345 passed out of every required House committee and made it to the floor. And as a May 2008 SurveyUSA poll demonstrates, MPP's lobbying effort made a significant impact on the electorate.

The battle to protect Minnesota's sick and suffering patients is far from over. The momentum we built this session has set the stage for future reform, and we have every expectation that a compassionate medical marijuana law will pass in Minnesota sooner rather than later.

MPP would 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 K.K. Forss, Neil Haugerud, Lynn Nicholson Rubenstein, Ron Oveson, Shannon Pakonen, Anthony Clark, Sean Haugan, Tom Fonio, Raymond Shelstad, Roy Sandstrom, Darrell Paulsen, Don Haumant, Shelley Anklan, Dr. William Heegaard, and Dr. Jacob Mirman. Your bravery, sacrifice, tenacity, and compassion are inspiring to all of us.

MPP 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), Steve Dille (R-Dassel), Linda Higgins (DFL-Minneapolis), and Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis); and our House sponsors Reps. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth), Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis), Chris DeLaForest (R-Andover), Leon Lille (DFL-North St. Paul), former Rep. Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon), as well as all of the co-sponsors.

You can continue to support MPP's ongoing work in Minnesota by writing your state representative to express your disappointment that the cruel policy of criminalizing the seriously ill will continue for the time being. Please also consider donating $10 or more today so that we have the funds to continue our aggressive lobbying effort in the months to come. And please forward this e-mail to your friends, family, neighbors, and e-mail lists so that they may take action as well.

Thank you again to everyone who participated in this statewide 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.