(Minnesota Independent) Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill to legalize marijuana for terminally ill patients late Friday evening, saying he sides with law enforcement opposition to the bill. Bill proponents say they will introduce a constitutional amendment to bypass the governor, noting overwhelming popular support in the state on the issue.
“While I am sympathetic to those dealing with end-of-life illnesses and accompanying pain, I stand with law enforcement in opposition to this legislation,” Pawlenty said in his veto letter.
Shorter Pawlenty: “I know your doctor says you’re dying and marijuana can help, but these cops here say it will make their job harder.”
“I’m disappointed in the governor’s action, but I’m not giving up,” Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, said in a press release. “This would have been the narrowest, strictest medical marijuana law in the country, but the bottom line remains that there are patients suffering terribly who need protection, and I won’t stop till they are protected.”
Joni Whiting, whose testimony of finding marijuana for her dying daughter brought tears to many legislators’ eyes, had harsh words for Pawlenty.
“The governor thinks I’m a criminal for allowing my daughter some comfort during the last months of her life,” she said. “I don’t know how he sleeps at night, but I do know I’m not giving up until others in my daughter’s situation are protected.”
This bill would have forbidden patients to grow their own plants and would have denied medical marijuana patient status to conditions like cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cachexia, gastro-intestinal disorders, chronic nausea, and chronics pain. Only terminal patients would have been able to use it. It’s a strange situation when there is a silver lining in a medical marijuana veto, but this may be it: at least when the legislature gets around to putting a constitutional amendment to the voters to bypass Pawlenty, the amendment can provide broader medical marijuana protections.
The down side, of course, is that the terminal patients who could’ve gained relief from this bill will probably die before the next legislature can help them.
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[...] pm | By: Radical Russ I recently received this comment, probably meant for my rants against the poor Minnesota medical marijuana bill vetoed by Gov. Pawlenty and my further commentary that subsequent bills in NH, NY, NJ and an initiative in AZ are making a [...]
It is almost better that this didn’t pass- anyone who can benefit from medical marijuana should have it, not just terminal patients. And one could argue, the ones who aren’t terminal could almost benefit MORE from it because they’re living in chronic pain, nausea, etc. and there is no relief in sight. Hopefully they’ll pass a bill that’s more broad when MN does decide to legalize medical marijuana. Here’s to hoping!
Yes, it would be tragic irony, but no, I don’t want any child to suffer. I wouldn’t even want Pawlenty himself to contract cancer and endure pain and suffering. But if someone were to plant 4 lbs. of stinky skunk in the governor’s trunk and surreptitiously render one taillight inoperable prior to a vacation that has him driving to Chicago, that might be kinda fun.
Next time a law officer make this claim ask them to please clarify how NOT doing anything about people smoking pot is somehow interfering with the million and one more important things that we pay them to do.
Law Enforcement is constantly complaining they have too much to do and too few officers. Always whining for more tax money. You’d think they would welcome not having to bother with marijuana nonsense so they could focus on real issues.
Why the opinions of the police hold so much weight on this issue is really baffling to me. They are the least qualified people to be making assessments on this matter. What a mad world.
Wouldn’t it be Irony of epic proportions of this traitor’s own child was afflicted with cancer and died without having the right to consume whatever medicine they could?
It doesn’t really matter, he is the kind of guy who puts his draconian oppressive beliefs in front of the health and welfare of his constituents. We’d call him a “Traitor” if he were in Texas :)
Actually, I think he’d fit right in with our Texas Gov.
Pawlenty is a heartless s-o-b…….