UPDATE:The Minnesota Senate passed HF1818's companion bill yesterday, May 6, on a veto-proof 48-18 bipartisan vote.
The House companion bill HF1818 to Senator Dibble's bill is languishing in the House.
Another bill, described in the House DFL research department memo posted here, is under consideration and it's NOT a companion bill. It does not create a system for legal medical cannabis to be distributing at alternative treatment centers across the state.
It creates an "observational study."
Call Representative Melin's office and ask her to quit playing games--and put HF1818 (amended to be the version passed in the Senate yesterday).
Contact Rep. Melin at 651-296-0172 or 888-726-0711 and tell her to pull SF2470 and support SF1641/HF1818.
It's time to be an honest broker, again, Representative Melin.
UPDATE: Bluestem Prairie's House medical marijuana people's whip count will not tally a whip count on the "compromise" clinical trial bill offered by the House in conjunction with law enforcement lobbyists.
This bill is not a companion bill to SF1641, and we're not going to pretend that it is. The Senate bill legalizes the use of medical marijuana for patients and sets up a tightly controlled system of alternative treatment centers to dispense medical cannabis to patients with cannabis cards. The legislation--originally offered by Tomassoni in the Senate,with a Melin sponsored companion in the House, originally dealt with K12 school technology.
The "compromise" allows for the creation of a few clinical trials, although the legality and feasibility these trials are suspect.
Should law enforcement lobbyists wish to create a whip count for the clinical studies bill they appear to have forced on Representative Melin, they are welcome to do so.
You can follow the Senate whip count here. [end update]
The Minnesota legislature reconvenes Tuesday, April 22, and will scramble to conclude business by May 19. One high profile issue, the legalization of medical marijuana, enjoys overwhelming popular support, according to recent polling.
And yet as Forum Communications' veteran political reporter Don Davis reports in his Minnesota political notebook: Minnesota marijuana issue remains clouded. Davis writes:
Medical marijuana legislation stalled in the Legislature until Dayton told reporters that lawmakers were “hiding behind their desks” from the issue. That prompted Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, D-Cook, to kick the issue into committee meetings.
The Senate measure awaits a vote, while a House bill sits in a committee.
Dayton says he will not sign a medical marijuana bill until law enforcement and medical organizations get behind one.
Curious where your legislator stands? Bluestem Prairie has assembled a chart of what is publicly known about Minnesota House members' positions on Representative Carly Melin's (DFL-Hibbing) HF1818 and HF2383, the identical "overlflow" bill filed by David FitzSimmons (R-Albertville) and five others after the maximum lawmakers allowed under House rules signed on to HF1818.
UPDATE: We neglected to include HF2099, another medical marijuana bill that's fairly close to the other bills. It's authored by Andrew Falk (DFL-Murdock) and co-sponsored by Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis) and Jay McNamar (DFL-Elbow Lake).
It's posted below the fold, and we're working on a chart for the Senate companion bill, SF1641.
Just as in the minimum wage constituent's whip count, Bluestem is asking readers to help fill in the blanks If your state representative hasn't gone on record on the bill, please politely contact her or him (click on the link under the names; if you don't know who represents you in the Minnesota House find out here) and ask her or him where she or he stands on HF1818. No need to ask about the overflow bill. (When you get an answer, please email Bluestem your answer at sally.jo.sorensen {at} gmail.com or leave the answer in our comments.
We won't publish your name or comment (absolutely NO temporary, fake, or spoofed emails acccepted in comments), but we do need to have documentation of constituent contact (email, letter or your account in an email of an office visit or a conversation) before we add the information you've collected to the Whip Count chart below the fold.
Name |
Stand 1818/2383/2099 |
Media reports |
Notes |
Abeler, Jim (R) |
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Albright, Tony (R) |
|
Seeks law enforcement, medical profession nod |
|
Allen, Susan (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Author of forfeiture bill HF1081 |
|
Anderson, Mark (R) |
No |
THC pills already legal, no need for bill |
|
Anderson, Paul (R) |
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|
Anderson, Sarah (R) |
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|
|
Anzelc, Tom (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Atkins, Joe (DFL) |
Yes/ Meeting with individual 4/29 |
Patch: hopes for compromise |
|
Barrett, Bob (R) |
No -statement |
Supports study for kids living w/ seizures |
Former Hazeldon exec |
Beard, Michael (R) |
|
|
|
Benson, John (DFL) |
Yes/ media |
“ardent supporter” |
|
Benson, Mike (R) |
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|
|
Bernardy, C. (DFL) |
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|
|
Bly, David (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
||
Brynaert, K (DFL) |
|
“seeks medical opinion” |
|
Carlson, L. (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Sun Post 2/21 wants agreement |
|
Clark, Karen (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Cornish, Tony (R) |
|
Bro in CA sees crime |
|
Daudt, Kurt (R) House minority leader |
|
Says 3/17 bipartisan support and opposition/ 2/12 unlikely to pass |
|
Davids, Greg (R) |
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|
|
Davnie, Jim (DFL) |
Yes- email |
|
To constituent; " Whether we get to a vote this year or not is a different question." |
Dean, Matt (R) |
No -4/12 tweet |
|
|
Dehn, R. (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Dettmer, Bob (R) |
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|
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Dill, David (DFL) |
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|
|
Dorholt, Zachery (DFL) |
Yes/media |
WJON 3/28 “completely supports bill” |
|
Drazkowski, S (R) |
No to HF1818 in present form Legislative update to constituents 4/26 |
|
supports medical marijuana in pill or oil form only via doctor's prescription. Administered orally or as vapor only and purchased at pharmacies Editor's note: Federal drug laws prohibit Schedule I drugs sale in pharmacies |
Erhardt, Ron (DFL) |
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|
Voted no 2007 bill in Ways & Means Com |
Erickson, Roger (DFL) |
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Erickson, Sondra (R) |
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Voted no 2007 bill in Health Care etc Com |
Fabian, Dan (R) |
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Falk, Andrew (DFL) |
Author of 2099; co-author HF2383 |
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Faust, Tim (DFL) |
|
Kanabec Co Times LTE against coauthorship |
Removed name HR1818 |
Fischer, Peter (DFL) |
Co-author HF2383 |
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Author HF2383 |
|
2383 is overflow 1818 |
|
Franson, Mary (R) |
No-social media |
TC Daily Planet 2/7 |
|
Freiberg, Mike (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 yes/ email to constituent |
Yes |
Hopes bill moves this session |
Fritz, Patti (DFL) |
no/media |
Will vote no |
|
Garofalo, Pat (R) |
Co-author HF2383 Amendment on HHS Policy bill |
||
Green, Steve (R) |
uncommitted/ email to constituent |
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"I wanted to thank you for contacting me regarding your support of medical marijuana legislation. I value your input and will keep your thoughts in mind as these issues come before me." |
|
Pioneer Press article on amendment |
Offered amendments limiting HF1818 |
|
Gunther, Bob (R) |
|
|
House bill co-author |
Hackbarth, Tom (R) |
Co-author HF1818 |
“wife is terminally ill” |
|
Halverson, Laurie (DFL) |
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|
|
Hamilton, Rod (R) |
unknown for 2014 (media reports are three years old) |
General opposition although living w/ MS |
In 2011 Strib article said that legalizing sends mixed message to kids |
Hansen, Rick (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 Yes/ Meeting with individual |
|
Spoke on floor of dying mother’s pain in 2009 |
Hausman, Alice (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
Medical pot supporter for over 10 years |
Hertaus, Jerry (R) |
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|
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Hilstrom, Debra (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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||
Hoppe, Joe (R) |
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No rush- look at CO and WA first |
|
Hornstein, Frank (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Hortman, Melissa (DFL) |
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Howe, Jeff (R) |
|
|
|
Huntley, Thomas (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Isaacson, Jason (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Johnson, Brian (R) |
|
Opposes bill |
|
Johnson, Clark (DFL) |
yes/ media |
MFP 3/15 “Sees value” in medical marijuana” Yes vote |
|
Johnson, Sheldon (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Kahn, Phyllis (DFL) |
Yes/MCC list Co-author of HF2099 |
Authored 2011 bill for med pot as export crop
|
Spoke to 2013 CLE training on bills Likely yes |
Kelly, Tim (R) |
Co-author HF2383 |
|
|
Kieffer, Andrea (R) |
Co-author HF1818 |
1818 press conference |
|
Kiel, Debra (R) |
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|
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Kresha, Ron (R) |
|
|
|
Laine, Carolyn (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Leidiger, Ernie (R) |
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Lenczewski, Ann (DFL) |
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Lesch, John (DFL) |
|
|
|
Liebling, Tina (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Chairs HHS Committee that heard bill |
|
Lien, Ben (DFL) |
Yes/ media |
Supports |
Says science is there |
Lillie, Leon (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Loeffler, Diane (DFL) |
|
|
|
Lohmer, Kathy (R) |
still researching email to constituent NEW email - see notes |
No -supports Dayton |
NEW 4/24 Wants "no growing" and "no smoking amendments. "I could support this with very limited and controlled use" Opposed ‘11 YouTube Doesn't say no but cites law enforcement, Schedule I, need for medical tests |
Loon, Jenifer (R) |
|
No |
|
Mack, Tara (R) |
|
|
|
Mahoney, Tim (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Mariani, Carlos (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Marquart, Paul (DFL) |
No/media |
KVRR Fox 4/12 No, w/ law enforcement |
|
Masin, Sandra (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
McDonald, Joe (R) |
|
|
|
McNamar, Jay (DFL) |
Co-author HF2383 Co-author of HF2099 |
|
|
McNamara, Denny (R) |
|
|
|
Melin, Carly (DFL) |
Author HF1818 |
Drew applause by calling attention to drug war funding for law enforcement. |
|
Metsa, Jason (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Moran, Rena (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Morgan, Will (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Mullery, Joe (DFL) |
|
|
|
Murphy, Erin (DFL) Majority Leader |
|
Wants compromise wants health care |
|
Murphy, Mary (DFL) |
|
|
|
Myhra, Pam (R) |
No/media |
with law enforcement |
Thought those working for medical marijuana support pot for fun |
Nelson, Michael V. (DFL) |
|
|
|
Newberger, Jim (R) |
|
|
|
Newton, Jerry (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Nornes, Bud (R) |
No/media |
No |
|
Norton, Kim (DFL) |
No/media |
Supports Dayton study No on HF1818 |
|
O'Driscoll, Tim (R) |
|
|
|
O'Neill, Marion (R) |
|
|
Former Teen Challenge employee |
Paymar, Michael (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 Had name stricken from bill May 2 |
|
|
Pelowski Jr., Gene (DFL) |
|
|
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Peppin, Joyce (R) |
|
|
|
Persell, John (DFL) |
|
“we use plant medicine all the time” |
Wants pill form |
Petersburg, John (R) |
|
No |
|
Poppe, Jeanne (DFL) |
|
Worth discussion Bill needs tightening |
|
Pugh, Cindy (R) |
|
Sees value but respects law enforcement views |
|
Quam, Duane (R) |
|
Willing to look if tightly controlled |
|
Radinovich, Joe (DFL) |
|
|
|
Rosenthal, Paul (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Runbeck, Linda (R) |
|
|
|
Sanders, Tim (R) |
|
|
|
Savick, Shannon (DFL) |
Yes/ media |
PC Herald 4/30 |
"Rep. Shannon Savick of Wells says she'd support the legalization of marijuana for seriously ill Minnesotans." |
Sawatzky, Mary (DFL) |
Yes/ letters |
|
Shared concern about veto threat with constituent |
Schoen, Dan (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
Day job : police officer |
Schomacker, Joe (R) |
|
Rock Co Star Herald 2/12 |
Talks about pros and cons |
Scott, Peggy (R) |
|
|
|
Selcer, Yvonne (DFL) |
|
Undecided |
Listening to doctors and patients |
Simon, Steve (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 strong supporter/ multiple emails |
Details on support |
"I do strongly support the medical marijuana bill." "I do support the bill. Medical marijuana is compassionate care." |
Simonson, Erik (DFL) |
|
|
|
Slocum, Linda (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Sundin, Mike (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
No/media |
Marshall Inpt 5/3/2013 No |
Fears it will encourage pot use by kids |
|
Theis, Tama (R) |
|
KNSI 2/24 Implies interest in pill, vaporizer forms |
|
Thissen, Paul (DFL) Speaker |
|
Davis/Forum 4/18 compromise w/ law enforcement needed |
|
Torkelson, Paul (R) |
|
MFP 3/15 Wants very tight controls |
|
Uglem, Mark (R) |
|
|
|
Urdahl, Dean (R) |
No/media |
Independent Review 4/25 |
"“I’m more open to it than what I was before,” Urdahl said, “but, as of today, I’m still against it. I want to learn more.” |
Wagenius, Jean (DFL) |
|
|
|
Ward, JoAnn (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
|
|
Ward, John (DFL) |
|
|
|
Wills, Anna (R) |
|
|
|
Winkler, Ryan (DFL) |
yes/ text exchange with constituent
|
Yes |
|
Woodard, Kelby (R) |
|
|
|
Yarusso, Barb (DFL) |
Undecided/email |
|
In email to constituent: "Because the bill is one that has been rather fluid in content, I can't take a stand on it until I see its final form." |
Zellers, Kurt (R) |
No-gubernatorial bid statements |
MPR 3/27 No |
|
Zerwas, Nick (R) |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
Yes: 48 (includes media Y) No: 15 (includes media N) Undecided/Unknown 71
|
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|
We'll update the Whip Count as new information comes in, and we will link to the Senate whip count when we have it constructed.
Photo: Carly Melin, author of HF1818.
If you enjoyed reading this post, consider giving a donation via mail (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or paypal:
I favor full legalization at the federal and state level. The DFL itself, not just Representative Melin, need to be "honest brokers" about this very complex issue. The legality of state medical marijuana itself is suspect. We need to address the core problem: the legal status of marijuana at the federal level. Cannabis substances are schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. This is federal law. Federal law supersedes conflicting state law. The DFL is proposing law that conflicts federal law.
GONZALES v. RAICH, The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2004/2004_03_1454/ (last visited May 12, 2014).
Posted by: Pete | May 13, 2014 at 11:59 AM