The Senate Judiciary Committee will convene at 12:30 p.m. today; on the agenda: Senator Scott Dibble's SF1641, a bill to legalize and regulate medical cannabis.
The hearing can be watched live at The Uptake.
While lobbyists for law enforcement continue to oppose the legislation, advocates believe the chances for the popular reform to pass and receive the signature of Governor Dayton are improving.
The Pioneer Press's Christopher Snowbeck reports in Minnesota Senate panel approves medical marijuana bill:
A bill to legalize medical marijuana in Minnesota cleared a second committee hurdle in the state Senate on Tuesday and is scheduled for another hearing Wednesday.
The Senate's state and local government committee approved the measure on a voice vote after reviewing rule-making provisions that would govern how a new network of marijuana dispensaries would prevent thefts and advertise cannabis treatment.
Rules also would govern how new groups of patients could seek access to marijuana as well as a system for tracking marijuana inventories.
The legislation from Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, provides access to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana for patients with conditions including cancer, glaucoma and AIDS. Cannabis also could be used for the treatment health problems such as severe nausea and epilepsy seizures.
Doctors would have to certify that a patient might benefit. Patients would receive an ID card from the state Health Department, and obtain marijuana from a new network of dispensaries.
The bill asks the state health commissioner to create rules for receiving petitions from the public about new patient groups that might want access to medical marijuana in the future. A medical cannabis advisory council would provide input on any such petitions, which would be subject to a public hearing.
In the City Pages Blotter, Aaron Rupar reports in Medical marijuana continues to advance; activist is confident Dayton will sign bill:
Today, the Senate Committee on State and Local Government advanced Sen. Scott Dibble's medical marijuana bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
If it's approved there, it could land on the Senate floor for a vote as soon as next week, Heather Azzi, political director of Minnesotans for Compassionate Care, tells us. . . .Azzi says that if the bill reaches conference committee, she expects the bill that lands on Governor Dayton's desk to look more like Dibble's version that either of the ones still alive in the House.
But will Dayton sign the bill? Azzi says at this point she's confident he will.
Asked if she thinks Dayton will sign a medical marijuana bill, Azzi says, "I do."
"Governor Dayton is a compassionate man, and he's learning more about the issue so he knows what he needs to do to make an informed decision," Azzi says. "I'm counting on it, and I'm doing everything I can do. I think the chances are good."
This is encouraging news, as Minn.: Senate medical marijuana bill clears another hurdle, an email from the Marijuana Policy Project noted:
The medical marijuana bill authored by Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Carly Melin cleared another legislative hurdle today when the Senate State and Local Government Committee approved it. With just a few weeks remaining in the session, it’s vital to find out if your lawmakers support medical marijuana.
Polling shows that Minnesotans across the state of all ages and from all political persuasions think their neighbors should be able to use medical marijuana under the advice of their doctor. However, some lawmakers are hesitant to support the issue, thinking a compassionate vote in support of medical marijuana will leave them politically vulnerable. Help dispel that myth by letting your lawmakers know that their constituents support medical marijuana and they should, too.
And Bluestem Prairie was pleased to see this notice in the message:
Ask your lawmakers today if they plan on voting “yes” for medical marijuana, and then please email us their response if you hear back. Every legislative vote matters, so please share this with your friends and family across the North Star State. You can also help build momentum by forwarding responses on to Bluestem Prairie, which recently created a House and Senate “people’s whip count” for medical marijuana.
We are receiving emails about legislators' stances, and the momentum does seem to be in the bills' favor. Please contact your legislators to see where they stand.
Photo: Senator Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis), who is patiently and thoughtful guiding the bill through the Senate.
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