Madison NORML

Medical marijuana picks up GOP support in MN House
Source: Minnesota Independent: click here

By Andy Birkey 2/4/09 8:51 AM
Scott Beale / Laughing Squid

Marijuana is back in the news this week after Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps is threatened with criminal charges for toking at a party and three Minnesota House Republicans sign on to a bill relax criminal penalties for users of medicinal marijuana.

Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan; Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont; and Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, are the three Republicans comprising a bipartisan slate of support to make Minnesota the 14th state to allow medical marijuana. Buesgens and Gunther are new to the bill, which saw similar bipartisan support last session. Hackbarth is a big supporter, having seen how it helped members of his family who were dying of cancer.

Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, is the lead author on the bill, and coauthor support has doubled from last year with 29 legislators backing the bill.

The medical marijuana bill, and its companion bill in the Senate, are expected to do well in the Minnesota Legislature, but could face a shaky future if it arrives on Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s desk. As shaky a future as Phelps career? Let’s hope both do just fine.

The list of bill sponsors include:
Rep. Mark Buesgnes (R-Jordan), Rep. Anthony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm), Rep. Thomas Huntley (DFL-Duluth), Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar), Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont), Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Cy Thao (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Sr. (DFL-Crystal), Rep. Tim Mahoney (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Bill Hitly (DFL-Finlayson), Rep. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley), Rep. Will Morgan (DFL-Bursnville), Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Minneapolis), Rep. Leon Lille (DFL-North St. Paul), Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis), Rep. Larry Haws (DFL-St. Cloud), Rep. Sheldon Johnson (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Jeff Hayden (DFL-Minneapolis), Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar), Rep. Dianne Loeffler (DFL-Minneapolis), Rep. Linda Slocum (DFL-Richfield), Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. David Bly (DFL-Northfield)