Medical marijuana bill advanced in the Senate

Coon Rapids ECM Publishers

Sen. Steve Murphy’s medical marijuana bill advanced through another Senate committee Tuesday (March 10) with possibly just one more committee stop before reaching the Senate floor.

Debate in the Senate Health and Human Services Budget Committee was much less emotional than in some earlier committee hearings, but basic questions were asked.

“Why are we so afraid to reduce people’s pain in their final days,” said Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon, DFL-Duluth.

Minnesota Family Council Tom Pritchard expressed concern over the number of marijuana cigarettes that could be produced by allowing the growing of marijuana plants.

Law enforcement officials have spoken out against the bill, though Murphy, a Democrat from Red Wing, opined that his medical marijuana bill would turn out like the concealed carry gun bill of several years ago.

Everyone, including himself, Murphy explained, were predicting passage of the bill would result in gun play in the streets — Murphy wore a bulletproof vest on the Senate floor to express his feelings, he related.

But the gun bill went into law and sky didn’t fall, Murphy explained.

He believes exactly the same thing will happen when his medical marijuana bill becomes law, he opined.

Murphy’s bill was sent to the Senate Finance Committee.

Date: 03/12/09