If there's one unwavering thing in Minnesota politics, it's Alexandria Republican Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen's opposition to anything related to the cannabis plant. Since joining the state senate, the former Douglas County Sheriff consistently has opposed legalizing medical marijuana and growing industrial hemp.
Now the Commissioner of Health has ruined his holiday spirits and he's as grumpy as ever, the Alexandria Echo Press reports in Ingebrigtsen opposes medical marijuana move:
State Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, was disappointed with recent developments in Minnesota’s medical marijuana laws.
On Dec. 2, Governor Mark Dayton, through the Commissioner of Health Ed Ehlinger, approved the use of medical cannabis for intractable pain.
While this was within the authority of the commissioner, Ingebrigtsen said the Legislature should have been involved in the discussion.
“We are talking about adding a substantial number of participants,” said Ingebrigtsen. “Intractable pain can be considered a neck strain, a migraine issue. These symptoms should have been discussed thoroughly in an open public setting within the Legislature before being unilaterally approved.”
Ingebrigtsen added that a majority of a taskforce for medical cannabis disapproved of the move, along with a majority of practicing doctors.
Funny, but we were under the impression that the legislature was involved in this decision when the law itself was debated in committees and on the floor in both chambers. The commissioner of health reminded Minnesotans of this fact--and that intractable pain is defined in statute (the stuff the legislature writes)--in a column earlier this month.
In Health Commissioner's View: Why I’m allowing the use of medical cannabis for intractable pain, Edward Ehlinger explains:
. . .When the state Legislature created Minnesota’s medical cannabis program in 2014, the law included nine health conditions that qualify a person to receive medical cannabis. The law gave the commissioner of health authority to add additional qualifying medical conditions, but requiring intractable pain be the first condition evaluated.
“Intractable pain” is not just chronic pain. It is defined by law as a condition in which the cause of the pain cannot be removed or otherwise treated and for which no relief or cure of the cause of the pain is possible or none has been found after reasonable efforts. . . .
No one should consider medical cannabis a panacea for pain. However, based on what we know today, it is prudent to give health care providers and patients another tool for the difficult task of managing severe pain.
We can see where this one is going for anti-medical cannabis legislators. The new measure, we'll hear, is but another administrative overreach, one of the standard frames that Republicans employ to woe voters. In this case, it's pure bull hockey.
Indeed, Bluestem suspects that Minnesotans were cheered by recent news touting the development of a new strain of medical cannabis, New strain could slash Minnesota medical cannabis costs. While news reports stressed the use of Katelyn Faith, a CBD-rich strain of cannabis, for treating childhood seizure disorders like the one that killed the plant's namesake, the National Institute for Drug Abuse's article, DrugFacts: Is Marijuana Medicine?, notes that CBD may be used in treating pain and inflammation as well:
CBD is a cannabinoid that does not affect the mind or behavior. It may be useful in reducing pain and inflammation, controlling epileptic seizures, and possibly even treating mental illness and addictions.
Using a high-CBD strain of cannabis? It's not just for kids anymore--and as more plant breeding research is conducted, the assumption that intractable pain is only an excuse to get high gets more laughable each day.
Potential Ingebrigtsen opponent wants to end pot prohibition
Voters in the district may end up with a clear choice on cannabis policy next November.
According to the Echo Press article Shawn Olson is a candidate for MN Senate District 8, the consultant is seeking the DFL endorsement against Ingebrigtsen.
Commenting on a July 18 Minnesota Public Radio News Facebook post about the medical cannabis program,Why medical marijuana is off to a slow start in MN, Shawn Olson remarked:
Cannabis should be legalized for any use. The costly, deadly prohibition against it that has festered for 60 years has to end. Colorado and Oregon know this, and are raking in new revenue that is going to schools, while money is being saved by not persecuting cannabis users in the justice system (law enforcement, prosecution, incarceration, etc.), and crime has gone DOWN as a result.
Minnesota would be wise to be forward thinking here.
What can we say other than pop some corn. Here's one healthy recipe.
Photos: Tech guy Dan Feidt called Sheriff Bill (grimacing left rear) a "grumpy cat" in a tweet of this still (above); Some nice legal hemp oil for your popcorn. The Minnesota Farmers Union and the Farm Bureau would like Minnesota farmers to be able to profit from growing industrial hemp for such products (below).
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
Email subscribers can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen at gmail.com as recipient.
Comments