Pubdate: Fri, 02 May 2014
Source: West Central Tribune (Willmar, MN)
Copyright: 2014 Forum Communications Company
Contact:  http://www.wctrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/542
Author: Don Davis
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Amelia+Weaver
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

VAPOR, NO SMOKE: MEDICAL MARIJUANA PLAN SET TO ADVANCE

ST. PAUL -- Amelia Weaver gets a legislative hearing for her eighth 
birthday today.

Her parents, Josh and Angie of Hibbing, hope it is a happy birthday 
for their daughter with Dravet syndrome, which causes frequent 
seizures. Today's hearing could be a big step to allow using parts of 
the marijuana plant to control those seizures, as well as other 
serious medical conditions in people of all ages.

The House rules committee takes up the medical marijuana issue, which 
has been stalled in another committee for weeks as law enforcement 
organizations, prosecutors and some doctors opposed it. What 
supporters call a compromise bill emerged Thursday and the committee 
will consider it today, with the prospects of moving the issue to a 
full House vote next week.

"It's real help for families," Rep. Carly Melin, D-Hibbing, said in 
announcing the revised bill.

The new measure bans smoking marijuana, but allows use of compounds 
from the plant in liquid and pill form. It also allows the plant to 
be used in a water vapor system.

Keeping smoking out of state law allowed law enforcement to stay 
neutral on the issue and prosecutors to consider abandoning opposition.

Melin's bill would allow marijuana use in doctor-run tests to treat 
conditions including seizures, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis 
and Crohn's disease.

Melin said some conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder 
and intractable pain, are best treated by smoking marijuana, which 
would not be allowed under her bill.

The prime lobbyist behind medical marijuana said the Melin bill will 
help no one.

Heather Azzi of Minnesotans for Compassionate Care said doctors will 
not prescribe marijuana because that would violate federal law and 
endanger their licenses.

"This legislation will not provide any medication," Azzi said.

A more liberal Senate version that allows smoking and carries Azzi's 
blessing continues to move through the committee process. If the bill 
by Sen. Scott Dibble, D-Minneapolis, passes, that would set up 
House-Senate negotiations to work out differences between the two 
bills. Once negotiations conclude, the House and Senate each would 
vote on the new measure.

Even with differences, progress was evident Thursday when House 
Speaker Paul Thissen, D-Minneapolis, and Majority Leader Erin Murphy, 
D-St. Paul, appeared with Melin in announcing the compromise bill.

Thissen worked with law enforcement organizations and Gov. Mark 
Dayton's office in an attempt to ease their concerns. Dayton 
repeatedly has said that he will not sign a bill without law 
enforcement and medical provider support.

On Thursday, Dayton released a statement saying he needs more 
information before deciding if he can support the Melin bill.

"The bill places heavy new responsibilities on the Minnesota 
Department of Health, and I have asked Commissioner (Edward) Ehlinger 
to assess the costs of its implementation and its practicability," 
Dayton said. "I also want legal counsel to assess the potential 
liability to the state from sponsoring such trials."

Angie Weaver said her family will move to a state that allows medical 
marijuana if Minnesota does not approve it this year.

"Amelia can't wait any longer," Weaver said.

Jeremy Pauling of Montevideo said his family, too, is desperate to 
help his daughter, 7-year-old Katelyn.

"If I have to crawl through a minefield, I will do it," he said.

While Pauling said he wishes the Melin bill would include smoking to 
help more patients, he said he is happy that it could help children 
like Katelyn with seizures.

The bill would allow clinical tests, conducted by doctors or the 
state Health Department.

Melin said parents of children suffering seizures could opt out of a 
test that would compare results from children taking a placebo with 
those taking liquid from a marijuana compound. Adults would not have 
the choice, and would be placed in tests that involve placebos for 
some of the participants.

Under Melin's bill, the state would hire a company to make the 
marijuana medicine by year's end, and patients could begin using it in mid-2015
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom