MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL CARRIED BY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE STEVE
KELLEY FAILS IN COMMITTEE

A medical marijuana bill carried by a DFL gubernatorial candidate
failed in a Senate committee on Thursday (March 2) and perhaps failed
for the session.

Sen. Steve Kelley, DFL-Hopkins, has had success earlier with his bill
but negative votes in the Senate Judiciary Committee left the senator
contemplating Senate rules for other options.

Kelley's bill attempts to establish a framework under which people
suffering from medical ailments and conditions could obtain marijuana.
Marijuana use is illegal in Minnesota.

Darrell Paulsen, of St. Paul, testified that he has used marijuana for
15 years to lessen the rigidity and other symptoms of his cerebral
palsy. "I live my life from a power wheelchair," said Paulsen.

Neil Haugerud, a former Fillmore County Sheriff and lawmaker,
testified in favor of the bill, saying he personally has suffered from
chronic pain for years though has not tried marijuana because it's
illegal.

Having the Minnesota Legislature approve a medical marijuana bill
would not wholly safeguard users from arrest.

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Kathleen Pontius, Senate legal
counsel opined, allows federal authorities to arrest medical marijuana
users even though they're abiding by state law. "Theoretically they
could," said Kelley of the feds nabbing people. But he didn't think it
likely.

Kelley said the witnesses who admitted to using marijuana for medical
reasons showed courage in testifying before the committee.

The bill took an interesting turn when Sen. Wes Skoglund,
DFL-Minneapolis, amended it with a provision that would have allowed
state law enforcement agencies to give or sell confiscated marijuana
to registered marijuana users. They have "the largest stash in the
state," said Skoglund of law enforcement.

The provision was later amended out of the bill.

Two attempts at getting the bill out of the Judiciary Committee failed
on tied votes.

Senators Don Betzold, DFL-Fridley, and Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley,
voted for the bill.