Medical Marijuana Advocates Drop 2010 Push, Will Wait 'til Pawlenty's Gone

[Jim Finnel]

Minn - Advocates of legalizing medical marijuana for chronically and terminally ill patients have decided to scale back their campaign to pass such legislation this year because of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto pen. In 2009, both chambers at the Capitol passed medical marijuana legislation with bipartisan support — only to see Pawlenty veto the legislation. Medical marijuana advocates had hinted at a constitutional amendment this session to bypass Pawlenty, but that won’t be the plan for 2010.

“Because Governor Pawlenty has announced that he is not seeking re-election in 2010, and because we don’t want to give him the ‘pleasure’ of vetoing another bill to help seriously ill Minnesotans, our focus has shifted to 2011,” read a statement from Minnesotans for Compassionate Care. “We intend to do everything in our power to ensure that a supportive gubernatorial candidate is in office when the next legislative session begins in January 2011.”

The group says it will continue to work with the law enforcement lobby to see if they can reach a compromise this session.

“MCC is meeting with law enforcement to answer their questions and learn about their objections,” the group wrote. “If law enforcement works with us in good faith, we may be able to introduce a bill that Governor Pawlenty will sign.”


NewsHawk: User: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: The Minnesota Independent
Author: Andy Birkey
Copyright: 2010 The Minnesota Independent
Contact: Contact us Minnesota Independent: News. Politics. Media.
Website: Medical marijuana advocates drop 2010 push, will wait ’til Pawlenty’s gone Minnesota Independent: News. Politics. Media.

 

[notrax420]

every aspect of this article make me sick as a minnesotan. We have a governor who is vetoing all sorts of programs and just ended healthcare for thousands of low income citizens yet, in no way is he willing to listen to new ideas to generate money. Is the only way to balance a budget by cutting? Innovation and new ideas should be given as much thought as simply axing state programs. Also MCC, come on, your name says it all you are supposed to be about compassion for the sickest of citizens. Yet you are willing to just sit around for a year because a governor will not be there. how many of the people you are supposedly representing will have to keep suffering another year? And on top of that, why is the MCC oinly for the sickest and terminal benefiting from medicinal marijuana. There are many who would benefit from the medicine, it is NOT just for the dying. But that is our main advocacy in MN. Thanks for not much of anything. It's time for a real advocacy group that demand change for legalization of a multipurpose medicine that works for a broad spectrum of ailments both physical and mental.

you can find more of my effort on facebook: Deemand Change is my profile name

 

[Nirvanagypsy]

Very sad.. Wishing you guys the best of luck in 2011.

 

[notrax420]

sad part is, MN house and senate passed MMJ in 2007 imagine that...thanks king pawlenty for dictaing over the will of the people and the govt