Pubdate: Sat, 17 May 2014
Source: Forum, The  (Fargo, ND)
Copyright: 2014 Forum Communications Co.
Contact:  http://www.in-forum.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/991
Author: Christopher Snowbeck, St. Paul Pioneer Press, INFORUM
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE APPROVES MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

ST. PAUL - Minnesota is on the cusp of joining more than 20 states in
legalizing medical marijuana.

The state Senate voted 46-16 on Friday for a bill that would provide
marijuana in the form of liquids and pills to terminally ill patients
and those with eight serious medical conditions.

The House followed suit Friday evening with an 89-40 vote. It now goes
to Gov. Mark Dayton, who said Thursday he would sign the bill.

"This is about getting something into the hands of people who have no
other available options that are any good at all -- people who are
suffering," said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, who sponsored a
medical marijuana bill in the Senate.

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia already allow medical
marijuana. The issue has been pushed to the forefront in Minnesota
this year by families seeking access to the drug for children with
severe seizure disorders.

Children take marijuana in the form of a liquid or oil, both forms
that would be allowed by the bill. Families say the treatment offers
hope, whereas traditional pharmaceuticals offer little relief and
significant side effects.

Similar concerns have prompted lawmakers in seven states this year to
allow limited access to a form of medical marijuana that's thought to
help with seizure disorders. Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said
Friday that lobbying by patient families made the difference.

"This was not on the legislative agenda of most of us in this room,"
Bakk said prior to the Senate vote. "This is a wonderful example of
how representative democracy works. A small group of families with
their hurting children came to their state government, and they
changed the law."

The legislation asks the state Health Department to select and
regulate two in-state marijuana manufacturers that would each operate
four distribution centers spread across the state.

Patients would not be able to smoke marijuana or use plant materials
in vaporizers, although vaporization of liquids would be permitted.
Doctors would have to certify that a patient has a qualifying medical
condition.

While legislators approved the bill in overwhelming numbers, some
raised concerns Friday about the potential for unintended
consequences.

Sen. Carrie Ruud, R-Breezy Point, said she feared legalizing medical
marijuana would lead to more problems with drug abuse and addiction.
Ruud predicted: "It will change the face of Minnesota, people, don't
think it won't."

Pointing to the example of how patients have worked the medical system
to satisfy addictions to prescription painkillers, Sen. Julie Rosen,
R-Fairmont, said: "We are again looking at another drug that is going
to be doctor-shopped."

Rep. Kathy Lohmer, R-Stillwater, said patients lack information about
adverse interactions between medical marijuana and other medications
they might be taking.

"I feel like we're making decisions here based on emotional feelings
instead of science, and I don't think that's a responsible governing
measure," Lohmer said.

Dibble, however, argued that there is evidence to show medical
marijuana can work for some patients. The bill includes measures to
prevent improper diversion of marijuana, he said, adding that states
with good medical marijuana programs haven't seen worse problems with
addiction.

Rep. Tina Libeling, DFL-Rochester, said the bill doesn't tell patients
and doctors they must use medical marijuana, but simply gives them the
option. When it comes to health policy, it's not uncommon that
legislators must "act without perfect information," Libeling said.

Rep. Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing, said the bill responds to the needs of
patients who aren't getting help from treatments approved by the Food
and Drug Administration. In the case of young children with seizure
disorders, most FDA-approved treatments haven't even been studied on
children, Melin said.

"Patients have safe, legal access to medical cannabis in 21 other
states," said Melin, who sponsored medical marijuana legislation in
the House. "They should be afforded that same opportunity here in 
Minnesota."

Marijuana would be dispensed by a pharmacist employed by the
manufacturer who would counsel patients on options. Pharmacists would
consult guidance from the state health commissioner about forms and
dosages that are best suited to conditions.

Earlier this month, the House and Senate passed different bills for
medical marijuana, with the Senate bill allowing more patients access
to marijuana in more forms. The bill voted on Friday was the result of
negotiations in a conference committee involving House and Senate
members, with input from Dayton.

But the final bill is far too restrictive, argued Sen. Branden
Petersen, R-Andover, who blamed Dayton for bowing to the concerns of
law enforcement groups. When another senator on Friday praised
Dayton's courage in dealing with the controversial issue this spring,
Petersen offered a vigorous objection.

"You've got to be kidding me," Petersen said. "The reason we're in
this position is because the governor has been completely unwilling to
engage in an intellectually honest, meaningful, good-faith
conversation about this issue."

The final compromise agreement differs from the earlier Senate bill in
not making marijuana available to most patients with a diagnosis of
intractable pain -- a large patient group that was not included in
legislation passed earlier this month by the House. Critics have
questioned whether letting pain patients access marijuana effectively
provides legal cover for recreational use.

About 5,000 to 7,000 patients are expected to obtain medical marijuana
each month -- a smaller number than the more than 35,000 who might
have participated under the Senate's bill. It's unclear whether such a
small program is economically viable for manufacturers, Petersen
argued Thursday during a conference committee meeting.

He voted against the final bill, after voting in favor of the original
Senate proposal.

The bill requires the health commissioner to register two in-state
manufacturers to produce medical marijuana within the state by Dec. 1,
2014. If the commissioner determines that no manufacturer exists for
the program, the verdict is subject to review by the Ramsey County
District Court.

Manufacturers are required to begin supplying medical marijuana to
patients by July 1, 2015. If a manufacturer cannot meet the deadline,
the commissioner can extend the deadline by six months.
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MAP posted-by: Matt