Reschedule Cannabis

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.

Why should we not allow patients use cannabis as medicine? Some of these people died fighting for medical marijuana.

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.

Sick people should not be arrested for using marijuana as medicine.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A Senate committee is expected to vote this afternoon on a bill that would expand the state’s medical marijuana program.

The bill would allow nonprofit businesses to sell marijuana to seriously ill patients.

The state now allows patients with chronic illnesses to possess and use marijuana for pain relief. But the law does not spell out how those patients can buy the drug, which remains illegal under federal law.

The legislation would also permit so-called “compassion centers” to sell up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana to a qualified patient or caregiver every 15 days.

All medical marijuana patients should be allowed to use cannabis as medicine. At least 2 ounces per week.