Why should the state legislature reject legalizing marijuana for medical purposes?

Reason #6 - The medical use of marijuana bill HF 655 is the proverbial camel’s nose under the tent for the full legalization of marijuana in Minnesota.

A few things to consider:

1. Note the way the bill is drafted. 
   • The potential for unlimited, unsupervised production of marijuana, e.g. 18 year olds are eligible to grow hundreds of pounds of marijuana in their homes or backyards. 
   • And the very vague, general definition of medical conditions eligible for smoking marijuana use, e.g. “Chronic medical condition that produces chronic pain.” are very good indications the purpose of the bill isn’t to merely help the truly sick, the terminally ill.  If it was intended for the terminally ill or very sick, why wasn’t the bill drafted that way? Section 2, Subd. 2 and 4.
     
     
2. The bill makes is more difficult for law enforcement to enforce existing laws.  
   • State law enforcement officials would be prohibited from cooperating with federal drug enforcement officials in enforcing federal drug laws.  Section 5, subd. 7.
   • State officials would be prohibited from inspecting marijuana-growing operations by registered organizations unannounced.  This is analogous to precluding food inspectors from inspecting food operations at restaurants and food handlers unannounced.  It would give these organizations a head’s up if they are engaging in illegal activity. Section 11, subd 5.
   • Law enforcement officials cannot use the results of a drug test, which contains traces (metabolites) of marijuana, in a DUI prosecution of a qualified medical marijuana user.  See section 6.
     
     
3. The prime mover behind the bill is a national organization called the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP).  Their stated goal, as found on their webpage www.mpp.org, is the full legalization of marijuana.  They say they are targeting Minnesota for lobbying activity and describe SF 345/HF 655 as “MMP’s Medical Marijuana bill in Minnesota…” The head of the Marijuana Policy Project is a convicted drug felon.
   
   
4. MPP has financed a book, “It’s Just a Plant”, which has a pro-marijuana message targeted at children as young as 8 years of age.

Let’s not open the door to the full legalization of marijuana in Minnesota.  The results will only be more crime, proliferation of illegal drugs, increased drug addiction among adults and children, rising medical and hospital costs, and broken homes.  Minnesota can do better.

Reject legalizing the smoking of marijuana for medical purposes.  Protect the health of all Minnesotans.

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