SEN. MURPHY, YOU MUST BE JOKING

Kudos to Sen. Steve Murphy for being in touch with the real needs of
District 28! Forget about the education disparity, high taxes or
roads. Murphy keeps busy authoring a bill to legalize the medical use
of marijuana. Who voted for this guy?

As a self-proclaimed substance abuser himself, I thought Murphy would
have realized this bill is nothing more than a Pandora's box. I read
the bill. There is page after page of applicability and restrictions.
Is it safe to assume that Murphy will need to create more government
jobs to monitor the use and sale of "illegal drugs" in Minnesota? He
should consider the release of drug dealers to monitor the sale of
this new "illegal" miracle drug. They are certainly qualified, and it
would free up space in our already over-crowded prisons.

The bill also reads, users can have 12 plants upon possessing a
"registration card." Gee, is it possible people will make a business
pirating these registration cards? Is it also possible unethical
doctors in Minnesota will misuse the prescription of this illegal
drug? And by the way, are you certain teens will never raid parent's
medicine cabinets and share this miracle drug at school? Does
Minnesota have enough prison space, lawyers and law enforcement ready
for when legislators endorse illegal drug use?

The best line in the bill states that a registered patient cannot
operate any motor vehicle while under the influence. However, a
registered patient shall not be considered under the influence solely
for having marijuana metabolites in their system. The courts are going
to love interpreting this one.

The message to youth is clear: Just say "no" to illegal drugs, unless
you live in Minnesota. Murphy you must be "toking"! Ooops, I mean "joking."

Deb Roschen

Zumbro Falls, Minn.