MN Sen. Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) on Marijuana Law Reform

Thank you for your e-mail regarding medical marijuana. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.

There are many reasons why SF 97 is not good legislation and I do not support the bill. The proposed bill puts law enforcement at odds with federal law. The medicinal use of marijuana will still be considered a crime by the federal government and any immunity granted under state law will not be granted at the federal level. We should not be placing our law enforcement officers in a position where they are asked to not enforce a law.

Does it bother anyone else that a state senator doesn’t seem to grasp the federal separation of powers and that state and local police are not charged with enforcing federal law?  Can anyone help us translate GARDEN GROVE, CA V. SUPERIOR COURT OF CA, ET AL. into simple language for the senator?

The Food and Drug Association (FDA) released a report stating that there is “no sound scientific study” supporting the medical use of marijuana.

Because the FDA is possessed of the same rigorous powers of understanding as Senator Koch.  Here are a plethora of sound scientific studies supporting the medical use of marijuana.

The state should not establish a system of dispensing an illegal drug without the FDA agreeing to its benefits.

Alcohol and tobacco, however, are perfectly fine for the state to regulate licensed dispensing of products the FDA has never agreed are beneficial.

Also, without the regulatory influence of the FDA, there is no guarantee that the drug consumed for medicinal purposes will be safe for the consumer.

I would tell you, Senator, of the multiple of people killed by FDA approved Vioxx compared to those killed by medical marijuana, but I can’t because it is impossible to divide by zero.

Health officials also agree that smoking marijuana adds complications to treatment, due to carcinogens and chemicals found in the drug and the fact that marijuana is addictive and weakens the immune system.

Wow!  She finishes off a paragraph with a 7.0 Anslinger rating with a single sentence coming in at 12.5 Anslingers! These reefer madness readings are off the charts!  In case you’re keeping score, that was four prohibitionist lies in just 32 words.

1. “Health officials agree…”  No, they don’t, or doctors wouldn’t be recommending marijuana in thirteen states.
2. “due to carcinogens…”  Sorry, while marijuana smoke has carcinogens, researchers have found no link and even a suggestion of anti-tumoral protection from marijuana.  Plus, you don’t have to smoke it.
3. “marijuana is addictive…”  Wrong.  Marijuana can cause dependence in 9% of the user population, but it ain’t nothing like an “addiction”.
4. “weakens the immune system…”  Yeah, sure, that’s why so many AIDS patients are using medical marijuana.

The Minnesota Family Council and law enforcement oppose this bill. Many national organizations such as the American Lung Association, the
Glaucoma Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the American Cancer Society also oppose this bill.

Many national organizations support medical marijuana. And what you’re calling “oppose” is merely the postions stated by these organiations against the smokingof marijuana as medicine.  “Many” of these organizations actually support increasing research into the medicinal effect of cannabinoids.

Again, thank you for your e-mail. Please don’t hesitate to contact with other comments and concerns you may have.

Hesitate to contact whom?  Anyway, we will.

Sincerely,
State Senator
Amy Koch

—————————————————————
AMY KOCH
State Senator
District 19
115 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
651 296-5981(phone)
651 767-0940 (fax)
sen.amy.koch@senate.mn.us