WORTHINGTON - The subject tends to bring out passion in many people, and the argument has been going on for years - should marijuana be legalized for medical purposes in Minnesota?

Recently, Worthington Public Safety Director Mike Cumiskey and Nobles County Sheriff Kent Wilkening added their names in support of a document written by Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom opposing medical marijuana.

"The organizations that represent Minnesota's law enforcement professionals strongly oppose adoption of a law legalizing marijuana for medical purposes," the document states. "While Minnesota's law enforcers have great compassion for persons suffering from cancer, AIDS, MS and other serious diseases, this proposal is not limited to these patients."

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President Obama says he is determined to cut the federal deficit in half, so I have an idea that will start saving millions of dollars right now: Shut down Plan Colombia. To date it has wasted about $6 billion.

Over the last few weeks, senior Colombian officials have been flooding Washington, lobbying everyone they can find to renew federal funding for this ridiculous enterprise. I had a chat with one of them, Vice President Francisco Santos. "So far," he told me, "we have not heard of any changes to Plan Colombia." That's too bad.

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"Statistically, I'm supposed to be dead," says Don Haumant, 57, as he sits in his Minneapolis living room, the winter light coming in through half-closed shades.

The one-bedroom apartment is decorated with period furniture - "You might be comfortable on a mission chair," he offers a guest - and flourishes of 1950s and Hollywood memorabilia. Above the couch is a photograph of MGM's studio players from Tinseltown's golden era. Clark Gable anchors the shot.

"There's not a whole lot that can be done," said the onetime actor, his speech leisurely but his posture crisp. "That's why I've had to take it upon myself to do the things that are within my power to live a better life. And one of the things I've done is find the substances that are the most helpful and least damaging."

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ST. PAUL -- Bills making it legal for severely ill Minnesotans to use marijuana to ease their pain continues moving through the House and Senate.

Both bills await further committee hearings after passing earlier tests.

The Senate version passed the Judiciary Committee 4-3 Tuesday night.

"I am increasingly confident that this will be the year that Minnesota joins the 13 other states that have acted to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest," said bill sponsor Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing. "This is an issue where science, compassion and simple common sense come together."

Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, sponsors the House bill. A House Civil Justice Committee hearing is expected soon.

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ST. PAUL - K.K. Forss dumped a trash-bag full of medicine bottles onto the floor, showing Minnesota lawmakers how he survived a serious spinal condition.

They let the Ely, Minn., photographer survive, but his life was miserable.

"I don't want the meds," he said. "I don't want drugs. I just want my life back."

Forss was among several Minnesotans affected by painful diseases who told committee members Wednesday they support allowing marijuana to ease pain in some circumstances.

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To the Editor:

I'm writing about: "DARE still going strong in elementary schools" (2-4-09).

Common sense tells us that the DARE program should deter our youth from using illegal drugs. But it doesn't. DARE graduates are more likely to use illegal drugs - not less.

Common sense tells us that the earth is the center of the universe and our solar system. But it's not.

Common sense tells us that prohibiting a product should substantially reduce the use of the product that's prohibited.

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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.

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Experience shows that it can give people suffering illness the strength to live their lives. That should not be against the law.

For the past several years, Minnesota lawmakers -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- have worked hard to pass sensible, compassionate legislation to protect seriously ill patients from arrest for using medical marijuana when their doctors recommend it.

It's encouraging that they've come so close in the past, but for many Minnesotans, time is running out.

I know. It's already too late for Jane Schmidt -- my mom -- whom I lost last year after a four-year battle with cancer. She fought bravely, even when the only drug that relieved her pain and allowed her to function -- medical marijuana -- also made her a criminal.

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I'm writing about: "DARE still going strong in elementary schools" (2-4-09).

Common sense tells us that the DARE program should deter our youth from using illegal drugs. But it doesn't. DARE graduates are more likely to use illegal drugs--not less.

Common sense tells us that the Earth is the center of the universe and our solar system. But it's not.

Common sense tells us that prohibiting a product should substantially reduce the use of the product that's prohibited. Actually, prohibition tends to substantially increase the desire for the product that's prohibited.

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ST. PAUL - George Wagoner said all it took was two breaths of marijuana smoke and his wife could cope with the pain of terminal ovarian cancer.

"She received dramatic relief," said Wagoner, a Michigan physician and medical marijuana advocate.

Ryan Rasmussen said he is recovering from a troubled lifestyle that started when he smoked marijuana, which led him to dabble in a stronger street narcotic and criminal behavior.

"Legalizing medical pot will cause more crime, not less crime," the 28-year-old Burnsville man warned.

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Backers of medical marijuana want the face of Stephanie Whiting-Shadinger to be one of those Minnesota lawmakers remember as debate resumes at the State Capitol on allowing some patients to use the now-illegal drug.

Whiting-Shadinger died in 2003 at age 26, suffering from malignant melanoma that required experimental treatments, chemotherapy and 10 surgeries. Daily doses of pain killers failed to relieve her misery.

Joni Whiting, a suburban grandma from Jordan, will be testifying today in a Senate committee that she reluctantly abandoned her anti-drug sentiments and went along with her daughter smoking marijuana in her final days. And she's glad she did.

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The Coon Rapids Police Department DARE program has been a fixture in the city's 10 elementary schools since 1988.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program has evolved since then, but its mission remains the same.

The curriculum for its fifth-grade participants is designed to promote self-respect, self-worth and give young people the ability to say no to drugs and alcohol.

Hannah Habermann was one of the 54 fifth-graders at Sorteberg Elementary School to receive a certificate Jan. 30 for completing the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program taught by Coon Rapids Police Officer Bill Michael.

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A 26-year-old man is facing numerous charges after he allegedly took an Austin police officer's stun gun and shot it into one of the officer's feet earlier this week.

Dominique Lamar Knox, 805 21st St. N.E., appeared Friday in Mower District Court for single counts of first-degree drug crime, second-degree drug crime, disarming a police officer, fleeing police in a motor vehicle and fourth-degree assault of a police officer, all felonies.

Judge Donald E. Rysavy set bail for Knox at $1 million without conditions or $250,000 with conditions.

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The good news of the new year lies in the oft-quoted sentiment "in crisis lies opportunity."

As a nation, we are challenged to examine old stereotypes and accepted economic wisdom. In acknowledging the reality of the daunting fiscal challenges in front of us, perhaps Americans will pause to question some social problems that have been allowed to persist with little serious analysis or discussion.

The Chemical Health Initiative of Goodhue County is focused on changing social and cultural attitudes that accept underage drinking and drug use as a normal part of growing up.

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On New Year's Eve, the Taliban scored a major tactical military as well as political victory through killing members of the security force of Abdul Salam, the commander of Musa Qala, a city in southern Afghanistan long contested by insurgent and NATO forces. The daring raid has captured attention and headlines.

A killing squad of approximately 30 fighters attacked Mullah Salam's house. They lost two men, and the Taliban claims as many as 32 members of the security force were killed. The government states the total lost is 20. The killers missed Salam, who was away working at his office.

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LEWISTON, Minn. -- Money, drugs and documents are missing from the Lewiston Police Department's evidence locker; close to $50,000 sent to the city is unaccounted for; and a number of public records are missing from City Hall, acting Mayor Richard Ahrens said Wednesday.

Ahrens made the comments at the conclusion of his final city council meeting, saying that incoming council members should address the problems. "I hope they get everything straightened out," Ahrens said.

A new mayor and two new council members will be sworn in next week, but when contacted Wednesday afternoon, Mayor-elect David Sommer said he hadn't been told about the problems.

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MANKATO -- A United States District Court judge has ruled evidence from a 2007 drug search can be used against a Mankato man facing a federal firearms charge. The federal charge of being a felon in possession of firearms was filed against Marcus Devon Smith, 30, in May. After his arrest on Nov. 4, 2007, Smith was charged with felony drug possession and firearm possession in Blue Earth County. Those charges were dismissed after the case was shifted to federal court.

About nine ounces of cocaine and three handguns were found in Smith's apartment in the 1200 block of Eastport Drive the day of his arrest, the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force reported. Agents with the task force searched the apartment after receiving a tip that Smith had a large amount of crack cocaine and was packaging it.

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At a time when the state's budget deficit has dominated the news, some area law enforcement agencies are seeing a welcome boost in funds from forfeited guns, cars and cash, according to a state auditor's report.

The report, released on Monday, says the Southeast Minnesota Drug Task Force saw net proceeds from forfeited property more than double between 2006 to 2007, climbing to more than $184,000.

The task force, a collaboration of local law enforcement that covers eight counties in southeast Minnesota, ranked third in the state for the most forfeiture incidents with 293. First place went to the Minneapolis Police Department with 1,186, followed by the Minnesota State Patrol with 460. The Rochester Police Department also enjoyed a forfeiture boom with more than $46,000 in net proceeds from seized property and cash.

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Cumberland Valley High School students are not so sure the district needs to spend the money on a school resource officer.

Since about mid-summer, schools officials have been discussing the idea with Silver Spring Township, which would entail assigning a uniformed township police officer to the district.

"An SRO would help with activity that is criminal in nature, but also would have a piece of his or her job that is community service oriented," said Don Brink, the district's safety and security coordinator. "SROs are more than police officers. They're also teachers, counselors and role models."

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James Rothenberger of Minneapolis, who served on the faculty of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, was a popular teacher who taught a broad range of courses while facing serious illness for 23 years.

During his career, he endured two kidney transplants, but still taught more than 100,000 university students.

Rothenberger, 61, died Dec. 8 in Minneapolis of complications from kidney disease and an infection.

He grew up in Deephaven and graduated from high school in Rochester, N.Y. In 1969, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science at the University of Minnesota.

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