MARIJUANA BILL NEARS HOUSE VOTE

ST. PAUL -- More than 10,000 seriously ill Minnesotans could control
pain with marijuana legally if a bill headed to the full House becomes
law.

The House Ways and Means Committee voted 13-4, with 12 members absent,
Wednesday to advance the measure. But Gov. Tim Pawlenty is likely to
veto it if the House passes the measure.

"Gov. Pawlenty stands with law enforcement in opposition to this
bill," Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said.

Even if the bill faces a veto, sponsor Rep. Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth,
said it is important to pass it as a message to Minnesotans.

The issue has arisen several times over the years, but has failed to
pass the House. It passed the Senate last year, so if the House passes
the measure - as Huntley expects - it heads directly to Pawlenty. Many
legislative committees heard testimony last year, so none was accepted
on Wednesday.

Huntley said there are two changes from a year ago. One is that the
College of American Physicians has endorsed medical marijuana use.

The other change, he said, is that "some of the people who testified
last year have died."

The bill allows doctors to approve marijuana use to reduce chronic
pain. Patients could have up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana at any one
time.

If the bill became law, state officials predict at least 10,000
Minnesotans would use marijuana.

Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion, a Pawlenty appointee, said
in an interview that medical marijuana decisions should be made by the
federal Food and Drug Administration, which approves other drugs.

"The Legislature is going to replace this process," Campion said. "It
doesn't make sense."

"How do you regulate it?" he asked. "Who tests it?"

A dozen other states allow medical marijuana use, and Neal Levine of
the Medical Marijuana Policy Project said it is important to those
with chronic pain.

"The states are trying to protect their own citizens because the
federal government arrests sick people," Levine said.

Federal authorities have arrested people using marijuana for medical
reasons, citing laws outlawing the practice.

"The overwhelming majority of the public supports it," Huntley added.