Why should the state legislature reject legalizing marijuana for medical purposes? Reason #1 - The Minnesota legislature is not qualified to decide what are safe and beneficial drugs.  By legalizing a Schedule I Controlled Substance, the Minnesota legislature is substituting its judgment for the FDA in deciding what is a safe and beneficial drug.

A few things to consider:

1. The state legislature has no experience or expertise in deciding what are safe and healthy drugs.  It conducts no tests on smoking marijuana regarding its effectiveness on particular conditions, risks, benefits, dosage, frequency or how marijuana interacts with other drugs, its impact on pre-existing conditions, or alternatives to marijuana use.
   
   
2. No testimony by qualified medical experts was presented demonstrating that medical marijuana is a safe and effective drug.   In fact, national medical associations oppose smoking marijuana for medical purposes.
   
   
3. Marijuana is a harmful drug when smoked. 
   • Marijuana cigarette delivers four times the amount of tar as regular cigarettes.
   • It weakens the immune system and is addictive.
   • Marijuana is implicated in mental illness.  It elevates the risks of depression, psychosis, and even schizophrenia.
   • It’s a mind-altering drug.  It affects memory, concentration and coordination.  Some of these effects show up 2 years after stopping use. 
   • Marijuana is dangerous drug.  Marijuana users are admitted to an emergency room with 5 times greater frequency than alcohol users.  Marijuana is addictive.  One study of 182,000 children in treatment indicated 48% were admitted for abuse of and addiction to marijuana compared to 19.3% for alcohol abuse.

Let’s be sure we rely on science to decide what’s safe and helpful medication not the state legislature.  You wouldn’t rely on the legislature to say what is an approved medication for your children or grandchildren neither should the legislature make that decision for the entire state of Minnesota.

Reject SF 345/HF 655, legalizing the smoking of marijuana for marijuana.  Protect the health of all Minnesotans.

Sources:   Health Journal: “More people seek help for marijuana addiction,” Tuesday, May 02, 2006, Kevin Helliker, The Wall Street Journal; Eliot L. Gardner, Addictive potential of cannabinoids: the underlying neurobiology, CPL Chemistry and Physics of Lipids 121 (2002 267-297)   “Study suggests marijuana induces temporary schizophrenia-like effects,” Yale Medicine Fall/Winter 2004: http://www.yalemedicine.yale.edu/ym_fw04/rounds.html; “Marijuana policy just right,” USATODAY.com 05/17/2005; Northwest Center for Health & Safety, P.O. Box 5853, PORTLAND, OR 97228-5853 PH: 360-263-5905 FAX: 360-263-3964 Sandra S. Bennett, Director   "Non-medical Marijuana: Rite of Passage or Russian Roulette?" July 1999 obtained at website WWW.CASACOLU   MBIA.ORG/PUBLICATIONS; Brief of the Drug Free Schools Coalition, et al. in Gonzales v. Raich, 2004 WL 1843964 (U.S. Supreme Court 2004) ; Kaplan, H.B., Martin, S.S., Johnson, R.J., and Robbins, C.A., Escalation of marijuana use: Application of a general theory of deviant behavior. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1986:27:44-61; Clayton, R.R., and Leukefeld, C.G., The prevention of drug use among youth; implications of "legalization" Journal of Primary Prevention. 1992:12:289-302   Drug Free Schools Coalition. 203 Main St., P.M.B. 327, Flemington, NJ  08822