Pubdate: Tue, 06 May 2014
Source: Saint Cloud Times (MN)
Copyright: 2014 St. Cloud Times
Contact:  http://www.sctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2559
Author: Mark Sommerhauser

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL PASSES IN SENATE

ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Senate has voted resoundingly to pass a bill
allowing use - but not smoking - of medical marijuana for those with
debilitating ailments.

The Senate bill would allow use of medical marijuana by inhaling
vapors or in pill or oil forms. It passed the Senate Tuesday on a
surprisingly strong 48-18 vote - a large-enough majority to override a
governor's veto.

St. Cloud-area senators were among the minority that opposed the bill,
except Sen. Dave Brown, R-Becker, who voted for it.

"It still is an addictive drug," said Sen. John Pederson, R-St. Cloud,
who voted no. "I believe it's a step toward legalization. I'm not
interested in starting toward that path."

Also Tuesday, a House panel readied a far more restrictive bill that
only would allow medical marijuana use in the context of research
studies. That bill could see a vote in the full House on Friday.

Both bills were scaled back in an effort to satisfy opposition that
had stalled them, primarily from law-enforcement groups and Gov. Mark
Dayton. Their recent progress is heartening proponents, many of whom
are people or caregivers of those with painful or crippling illnesses.

Most advocates are lining up behind the more-expansive Senate version
of the bill, saying the House version may not help many who need
medical marijuana.

But the Senate bill is more ambitious than Dayton and law enforcement
officials have said they would support.

Neither the Senate nor House bills would allow patients to smoke
marijuana. Of 21 states and the District of Columbia that have passed
medical marijuana laws, Minnesota would be the only one banning
smoking the plant.

Senate, House versions differ

Many medical-marijuana patients argue that barring smoking of the drug
is shortsighted.

Some conditions, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea, render patients
unable to consume the drug in pill or oil form. Smoking is a method
that provides immediate relief, and it doesn't require an expensive
vaporizing machine to provide the necessary dose, they say.

"A vaporizer is cumbersome," said Pat McClellan, 47, a Burnsville
resident who uses one to treat his mitochondrial myopathy, a type of
muscular dystrophy. "It takes both hands to use and the high-end ones,
which don't break like the other ones, can cost $500 to $700."

The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis,
would put the Minnesota Department of Health in charge of implementing
the state's medical-marijuana program. Starting next year, 55 centers
that would grow, harvest and process the marijuana would open to
dispense the medications to qualifying patients.

Patients would apply for a photo-identification card and would have to
be diagnosed with a specified set of conditions caused by maladies
including epilepsy, cancer and glaucoma. The patient would have to be
examined by a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy. That doctor
would be required to issue a written opinion that the patient likely
would benefit from marijuana treatment.

The House version of the medical marijuana bill would allow about
5,000 Minnesotans to enroll in an observational research study through
which they would receive marijuana medicine in pill or oil form.

The Department of Health would select one medical cannabis
manufacturer to supply all patients participating in the study.

The House bill has a more restrictive definition than the Senate of
which medical conditions would qualify someone to use medical marijuana.

Critics want FDA approval

Many senators who voted against the bill Tuesday said they want
medical marijuana to be approved by the FDA before legalization
occurs. Sen. Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, offered an amendment to the bill,
which was voted down, that would have required Minnesota to ask the
federal government for such approval.

"If we're going to listen to someone who (just) says he's a doctor,
why don't we rely on snake oil, bloodletting and the ever-popular
leeching," said Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, during the debate.

Medical-marijuana advocates say the research needed to obtain FDA
approval is hindered by the drug's classification as a federally
controlled substance.

Sen. Michelle Fischbach's explanation of her vote showed how
lawmakers' stances on medical marijuana don't follow party lines.
Fischbach, a Republican from Paynesville, echoed Dayton's position,
saying her support for medical marijuana is tied to law-enforcement
groups getting on board.

"It's an addictive substance and it's illegal for a reason," Fischbach
said. "If the people are serious about it, go back to the drawing
board and work with law enforcement."

Minutes before debate started on the bill, Brown acknowledged he still
was wrestling with a final decision.

Brown said he was moved by pleas from parents of children with severe
seizure disorders and other ailments they believe could be treated by
medical marijuana.

"If that's the only thing that's working for these kids - if the
prescription drugs aren't working - how can we tell the parents no?"
Brown said.

"Me, as a parent, if I dealt with that on a daily basis, I would want
my child to have relief."

- - The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- -----------------------

HOW THEY VOTED

Here's how St. Cloud-area senators voted Tuesday on a bill to legalize
medical marijuana in limited forms:

YES

Sen. Dave Brown, R-Becker

NO

Sen. Bruce Anderson, R-Buffalo

Sen. Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville

Sen. Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa

Sen. John Pederson, R-St. Cloud

Sen. Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake
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