LAWMAKERS SPEAK ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

After watching his own mother die an excruciating death from cancer,
Sen. Paul Koering changed his mind about the appropriateness of
medical marijuana use among the dying.

Who in the hell are we to say 'No' to that?" asked Koering, Republican
from Fort Ripley, speaking at a Capitol press conference today (Feb.
11).

The medical marijuana debate is back at the Capitol, and it's an issue
that touches close to both supporters and opponents.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including conservative Republicans,
spoke at the pro-legalization press conference that took place shortly
before a Senate health committee moved the legislation forward.

Sen. Jim Carlson, DFL-Eagan, spoke of a friend, a constituent, whose
nausea was quilled by medical marijuana during their aggressive cancer
treatment.

As far as I'm concerned," said Carlson, "this is not only end of life
issues - pain issues - but this is for treatment issues," he said.

Sen. Debbie Johnson, R-Ham Lake, who infrequently appears at press
conferences, argued that medical marijuana offered an alternative to
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs that are nonetheless
addictive.

So let's give it (medical marijuana) to them," she said of people
facing end of life issues.

Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, bill author, flatly stated that
Minnesota law enforcement in opposes the medical marijuana bill.

Others do, too.

Tom Pritchard, of the Minnesota Family Council, argued that the
legislation is too loosely written.

Additionally, Pritchard saw the bill as part of a larger effort to
legitimize marijuana - of children being told that marijuana is medicine.

It sends them the wrong message," said Pritchard.

A Minnesota Chief of Police Association official testified before the
Senate committee of the association's opposition to the bill.

Others, including two former addicts, spoke of marijuana as a "gateway
drug" and also opined that medical marijuana growers would be subject
to robbery and extortion by criminals trying to get their hands on the
plants.

But the Senate has previously passed medical marijuana, and members of
the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee did not
accept all of the arguments voiced by bill opponents.

Sen, Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL-Winona, a registered nurse, argued
that the depiction of marijuana as a "gateway" drug by one former
addict was illogical as many people can drink wine or use drugs and
not become addicted.

They don't always get into addictive cycles," she said.

Murphy, a recovered addict, also took issue with some of the
criticism.

The "sky is falling" attitude of some of the opponents is just that,
said Murphy.

Murphy, who admitted to having used marijuana, scorned the idea
suggested by opponents that the two and a half ounces of medical
marijuana qualified patients could obtain under the bill is enough
marijuana to roll 100 ""joints"" simply isn't true.

The committee passed the bill.

Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, who is carrying the legislation in
the House historically unfriendly towards the legislation, said he
intends to "push it."

He suggested that the governor, if he didn't want to sign the bill,
could let it become law without his signature.

Rukavina also pointed to former Republican lawmakers Chris DeLaForest
of Andover, now a lobbyist working the medical marijuana legislation,
as an asset in nursing the bill through the House.

For his part, he would make his support of the bill known to
administration, said Koering.

This because Pawlenty opposes the bill doesn't mean lawmakers should
stop working to pass it, he opined.