Pubdate: Sat, 10 May 2014
Source: Mesabi Daily News (MN)
Copyright: 2014 Mesabi Daily News
Contact:  http://www.virginiamn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2565

MEDICAL MARIJUANA MEASURE PASSES IN HOUSE

Dayton Says He Can Support Bill As Passed; but Senate Version Differs

ST. PAUL (AP) -- The Minnesota House overwhelmingly passed a bill on
Friday that would legalize marijuana use for medical reasons but under
tighter restrictions than a bill passed by the Senate earlier in the
week.

After the vote of 86 to 39 was announced, families looking on pumped
their fists and broke into a round of hugs. Angie Weaver, who stood by
her 8-year-old daughter, Amelia, who suffers from a rare form of epilepsy.

"I feel like Minnesota is going to do this," she said. "It's going to
change my daughter's life."

In Brainerd for Saturday's fishing opener, Dayton told WCCO-TV minutes
after the vote that he could support the bill "the way it was when it
went on the floor." But lawmakers did add some amendments to the bill
and it now heads to the Senate. If the two chambers reconcile their
differences and it is signed by Gov. Mark Dayton, Minnesota would
become the 22nd state, plus the District of Columbia, with some form
of legalized medical marijuana.

The legislation allows medical pot in pill, oil and vapor form to
patients from three state dispensaries.

Representatives such as Tony Albright, R-Prior Lake, became emotional
as they explained why they would vote to support legalization.
Albright converted from an initial "no" to an ultimate "yes."

He described seeing a group of young children recently gathered in the
Capitol rotunda.

"If that was my son or daughter and they wanted something to ease
their pain so they could eat, so they could sleep through the night,
so they could see Thanksgiving or Christmas one more time..." Albright
said, pausing often to compose himself. "It's weighing heavily on each
of us: How do we do the right thing?"

"People often want to avoid this topic because it's not easy," said
the proposal's sponsor, Hibbing Democrat Rep. Carly Melin, adding that
some preferred to tackle it next year. "But the fact of the matter is
the families, patients and kids -- they can't wait until next year."

But Rep. Bob Barrett, R-Lindstrom, voted against legalization and
raised concerns about allowing such use of the drug.

"This is one of the most used and abused illegal substances in the
country and a lot of people want it," Barrett said.

Neither the House nor Senate proposals allow smoking the drug, which
law enforcement opposes because police say it could lead to more
illegal recreational use of marijuana. Both chambers empower the state
health commissioner to add to the list of maladies allowed to be
treated by medical marijuana.

The House bill identifies eight conditions that would qualify, with a
possible ninth if the health commissioner acts on a House amendment
requesting that "intractable pain" be considered as a justification.
The Senate proposal includes a few more maladies.

Unlike the Senate measure, the House bill does not require a
photo-identification card. Instead, patients would receive an
identification number if a doctor, a physician assistant or
advanced-practice registered nurse certified a qualifying illness existed.

The House legislation also establishes a research study.

Law enforcement opposes the Senate bill but was neutral on the House
bill before Friday's debate and amendments. The Minnesota Medical
Association this week called the House proposal "a more useful,
measured approach."

The Senate measure would establish 55 dispensaries throughout the
state.

Medical marijuana legislation appeared to be dead earlier this
session. Dayton made his support largely conditional on the
acquiescence of law enforcement, but police and prosecutors were
firmly opposed.

The governor later said he was moved by advocates' appeals that only
marijuana could help some children and adults with debilitating
diseases, and Dayton offered a plan for research and clinical trials
of the drug for children. His proposal, which stopped short of
legalization, angered some advocates who said they couldn't wait years
to treat their children.

Dayton then challenged lawmakers to tackle the issue, and legislation
began moving ahead in both chambers.
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MAP posted-by: Matt