Time runs out for medical marijuana bills

Published: June 2, 2005

Despite massive public and bipartisan support for medical marijuana in Minnesota—and an overwhelming win in the Senate Health and Family Security Committee—the legislative session ran out before medical marijuana bill S.F. 1973 could pass through the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sadly, this means that seriously ill Minnesotans will continue to face the threat of criminal penalties for using medical marijuana.

Still, the Marijuana Policy Project considers this session—the first in which a medical marijuana bill has passed a committee in Minnesota—to be a great step forward in the fight to protect medical marijuana patients. Senators Steve Kelley (DFL-Hopkins), Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth), and Bob Kierlin (R-Winona) introduced MPPs model medical marijuana bill, S.F. 1973. The bill passed the Health and Family Security Committee by an impressive 5-2 vote, and was then referred to the Judiciary Committee. Unfortunately, however, the committee allowed the legislative session to expire without taking action on this important legislation.

Please urge your legislators to take up this matter next session and to stand up for Minnesotas medical marijuana patients. Take Action by sending an e-mail to your legislators today.

The Senate committee victory would never have been possible without the courage of the patients and caregivers who risked so much to stand up and speak out: Sue Wild, Jerome Schaffer, Tracey Herrly, Jason McDonough, Darrell Paulson, and Don Haumant. Your bravery, sacrifice, and tenacity are inspiring to all of us.

In the House, Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) introduced H.F. 2151, the companion bill to S.F. 1973. Sadly, the bill died while stuck in the House Health Policy and Finance Committee. Huntley is a member of the faculty at the University of Minnesota-Duluth medical school, and he serves as the lead DFLer on health-finance issues on the House Health Policy and Finance Committee.

In February, a poll conducted by Zogby International showed that Minnesotans support medical marijuana by a 2-1 margin. Tell your legislators that supporting medical marijuana is not only the compassionate thing to do, it's the right move politically.

Please take action today.

Medical marijuana bills have been introduced every session in Minnesota since at least the 1980s, but none have made it out of committee until this year. This demonstrates that the efforts of constituents like you truly do make a difference.

Be assured that MPP will continue fighting to defend Minnesotas seriously ill residents. Please forward this e-mail to friends and family around Minnesota so that they, too, can help protect medical marijuana patients from arrest and prison.