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MINNEAPOLIS New legislation, which would legalize marijuana for medical use, was criticized today by Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Family Council (MFC). The bill, S.F. 1973 is sponsored by Senator Steve Kelley (D-St. Louis Park) and coauthored by Senators Kierlin, Solon and Marty and H.F. 2151 sponsored by Representative Thomas Huntley (D-Duluth), would decriminalize the possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes.
This push to legalize possessing marijuana for medical use is not only bad medicine, its bad public policy, said Prichard. The bill would authorize the establishment of a registry identification system for both users and suppliers of marijuana. The only requirement to be a supplier of marijuana is the person be 18 years of age and listed by a qualifying patient as a supplier. Suppliers could grow up to 60 marijuana plants annually to provide marijuana for five users. Sources estimate this would produce annually between 60 to 300 pounds of marijuana which in turn would produce between 27,240 and 136,200 joints. This bill certainly looks like the proverbial camels nose under the tent. With the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, theyll have already created a good size market for recreational purposes, said Prichard. "The superior medical benefits of marijuana claimed by pro-marijuana organizations have not been proven, said Prichard. It is no wonder medical associations like the American Medical Association, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Glaucoma Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Cancer Society have all rejected the argument that marijuana has medical usefulness today. This legislation will simply weaken Minnesotas laws which prohibit the use of marijuana, said Prichard. It will also serve to weaken the message to kids that drugs are dangerous. |
The Minnesota Family Council is Minnesota's largest nonprofit, non-partisan pro-family organization.
Minnesota Family Council / Minnesota Family Institute
2855 Anthony Lane South, Minneapolis MN, 55418-3265
phone 612.789.8811, fax 612.789.8858, www.mfc.org