Welcome to Minnesotans for Compassionate Care (MCC)

Minnesotans for Compassionate Care is a coalition of organizations, medical professionals, patients, and concerned citizens working to protect people with cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, and other serious illnesses from arrest and prison for using medical marijuana on their physicians' advice.

Seriously ill patients who use medical marijuana under their doctors' supervision are currently in danger as a result of Minnesota's failure to protect them from criminal penalties. MCC is working to enact a medical marijuana law based on compassion and common sense, so that medical marijuana patients will not be forced to live in fear simply for using the medicine that eases their pain and, in many cases, allows them to live normal lives.

Governor Pawlenty has vetoed the medical marijuana bill

Before the legislature adjourned for the year, the medical marijuana bill was passed by the full Senate and the full House for the first time. Despite unprecedented progress in the legislature, the sick and dying patients of Minnesota will have to wait longer, because Governor Pawlenty vetoed the very limited the bill that reached his desk.

Despite this unfortunate turn of events, the battle to protect Minnesota's sick and suffering patients is far from over. But we will not give up. We are exploring all possible options, ranging from a constitutional amendment in 2010 to another push for legislation in 2011. In either case, Governor Pawlenty will not be able to stand in our way, as he has announced he is not seeking re-election in 2010.

MCC thanks all of the courageous patients, doctors, nurses, and ordinary Minnesotans who testified on behalf of the bill, signed statements of principle, sent e-mails, and made phone calls. In particular, we’d like to thank Joni Whiting, Kathy Rippentrop, K.K. Forss, Don Haumant, Dr. George Wagoner, Norm Stamper, Kendra Miller, Ron Oveson, Robert Youcha, Neil Haugerud, Jerry and Carmen Peterson, Roy Sandstrom, Harold Nicol, James Wellman, Matthew Brozen, Darrell Paulen, Shannon Pakonen, Dr. Todd Handel, Dr. Greg Carter, and Shelley Anklan. Your bravery, sacrifice, tenacity, and compassion are inspiring to all of us.

We also thank Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) for taking the lead on this critical issue in the Senate, along with co-sponsors Sens. Geoff Michel (R-Edina), Debbie Johnson (R-Ham Lake), Linda Higgins (DFL-Minneapolis), and John Marty (DFL-Roseville), as well as our House author Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) and all 28 co-authors. And finally, we thank all 105 legislators who voted for passage of the medical marijuana bill (for a full list, click here).

http://minnesotacares.org/Legislatorswhovotedforfinalpassage.htm

Thank you to everyone who participated in this effort. We have moved the bar significantly, and it’s only a matter of time until we have an effective medical marijuana law on the books in Minnesota.

Recent history

During the 2007-2008 legislative session, MCC’s lobbying effort led to unprecedented progress in the legislature and the court of public opinion. S.F. 345 passed the Senate at the beginning of Minnesota’s biennial session, with the endorsement of the Minnesota Nurses Association, the Minnesota Public Health Association, the Minnesota AIDS Project, the Minnesota Senior Federation, and hundreds of doctors and thousands of nurses who signed statements of support. Recent polling has shown more than 2-to-1 support among Minnesotans. More than 10,000 Minnesotans contacted their state representatives in support of the bill, and a series of TV ads featuring Minnesota patients ran for weeks.

Tremendous progress was made during the 2007-2008 legislative session. Prior to this session, no medical marijuana bill had passed a single House committee, while we passed out of five. As the SurveyUSA poll demonstrates, MCC’s lobbying effort made a significant impact on the electorate.

Momentum remains on our side. Our efforts -– and your generous support -– have made an important difference, and all that was accomplished last session has set the stage for reform during the current session.

Patient profiles

Because of the state House's inaction last year, thousands of patients continue to suffer. Some live in fear of arrest and are sometimes prosecuted and convicted. Others are too fearful or law-abiding to break state law and suffer needlessly because the medicine they know would work best is not allowed in their state.

You can watch several of these patients talk about how medical marijuana helps their conditions.

Are you a patient?

If you are a patient with a serious medical condition who could benefit from medical marijuana, or a supportive medical professional, please e-mail us at: mail@minnesotacares.org to get involved.

Stay up-to-date

During the last several years, we have moved the bar significantly, and it's only a matter of time until we have an effective medical marijuana law on the books in Minnesota. Please subscribe to our free legislative alert service if you haven't already done so.