pawlenty plans to veto medicinal marijuana bill

After major bipartisan efforts by lawmakers, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill yesterday which would be the first step in legalizing medicinal marijuana in the state. Sadly, Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty has made it clear that he will veto the bill, effectively shattering the hopes of thousands of patients suffering from chronic illnesses in the state. Pawlenty's promise to veto the bill is another jarring example of a politician who is more concerned with his image than with the people he supposedly serves.

Unfortunately the final version of the bill which was passed would have done little to truly help suffering patients. In fact, the bill limits the use of medicinal marijuana to terminally ill patients, effectively preventing its use by thousands of patients suffering from other chronic illnesses. Furthermore, cancer patients wishing to treat chemotherapy-related nausea would be denied access to medicinal marijuana. Finally, the bill prevents terminally ill patients from growing their own marijuana, making accessibility a major issue.

Regardless of these drawbacks, the enactment of the bill would be a major step towards real marijuana policy reform in Minnesota. Hundreds of studies have made it clear: marijuana has medicinal uses. For this reason 13 states in the U.S. have already legalized medicinal marijuana. Pawlenty's promise to veto the bipartisan bill not only goes against the demands of progressive Minnesotans, but once again shows the Republican party's inability to see through the social taboos which have led to their continuous failures in recent years.

Free up the herb,
Jeet