Rep. Huntley: Ruling Confirms Minnesota Can Protect Medical Marijuana Patients

[Judi Lynn]

Date: 12/7/2006

Rep. Huntley: Ruling Confirms Minnesota Can Protect Medical Marijuana Patients

California Judge Tosses Out Challenge to Medical Marijuana Laws

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA — Yesterday's ruling rejecting a challenge to California's medical marijuana law removes all doubt that Minnesota has the right to pass similar legislation, Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) said today. Huntley has been the lead sponsor of legislation in the Minnesota House of Representatives that would allow Minnesota patients suffering from terminal and chronic illnesses to use marijuana if their physician has certified that the patient would benefit.

"This ruling removes any doubt that our state can act to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest under state law, regardless of federal policy, and there is no reason not to pass this bill promptly," Huntley said. Rep. Huntley will be chairman of the Health and Human Services Finance Committee in the 2007 Legislature. A Ph.D. biochemist, Rep. Huntley has helped train a generation of Minnesota physicians as a member of the medical school faculty at the University of Minnesota - Duluth.

In the California case, San Diego County sought to overturn the state's medical marijuana law and a program under which counties were required to issue ID cards identifying legally qualified medical marijuana patients, claiming that federal law bars the state from enacting such a program. Superior Court Judge William R. Nevitt Jr. flatly rejected the argument, writing, "Requiring the counties to issue identification cards for the purpose of identifying those whom California chooses not to arrest and prosecute for certain activities involving marijuana use does not create a 'positive conflict'" with federal law. Nevitt had already issued a tentative ruling Nov. 16 rejecting the county’s argument.

"This ruling comes as no surprise, given that state medical marijuana laws have been protecting thousands of patients for the past 10 years without previously being challenged," said Zane Hurst, legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "With the California ruling ending all doubt that Minnesota can protect medical marijuana patients, we look forward to supporting Representative Huntley's efforts to pass medical marijuana legislation in 2007."
(snip/...)

http://www.mpp.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=glKZLeMQIsG&b=1157875&ct=3286301

[brer cat]

1. I hope this passes!

Let me say up front that I have never used marijuana, and was not a happy camper when I found out that my daughter used it for a while. I am certainly open-minded with those who wish to decriminalize the use. But that is NOT the issue here, and should not become part of this issue.

Pain management, especially with chronic illnesses, should not be a political issue EVER. From what I've read, there is ample evidence that many patients benefit from marijuana, and therefore the use should be simply between the patient and care giver. My mother died of ovarian cancer, and I would have fought tooth-and-nail to give her anything that would have eased her pain in the last days. Politicians need to learn to butt-out of issues involving a patient and physician or nurse practitioner. I have never seen any evidence that medical use of marijuana in any way had a negative impact on society, so there is no need for it to become a political football at the mercy of any party or candidate that needs to pump up his/her "base."

end of rant.

[thingfisher]

3. If marijuana was a lab created substance

that could be marketed at an outrageous profit, it would have been available for physicians to prescribe decades ago. This harmless plant is included as a shedule one drug (along with heroin and morphine)and regardless of its many health benefits has faced incredible opposition as an analgesis for suffering patients.

The total hypocricy that swirls around this plant is obvious to millions of Americans and other citizens from around the world who know from experience that the propaganda against its use is completely bogus. maybe no other issue has done more to undermine public confidence in the truthfulness of government than the lies that have been perpetuated about marijuana in the face of mountains of scientific evidence to the contrary.

[brer cat]

5. I think you are right.

Pharma doesn't want anything available that doesn't make a profit for them, and "bought" congresscritters are going to toe the line. Forget what's best for the patient. It's just nuts!

As an aside, I have so little patience with physicians who pull out a prescription pad to cure any ailment that walks in the door. Lifestyle changes, herbals, many other natural ingredients can help and possibly cure many illnesses. I developed full-scale flu two years ago on Christmas day. My sister, an RN, treated me with her "cold-killer soup" and natural products. The only thing she gave me from pharma was over-the-counter strength ibuprofen to relieve pain and reduce fever. And I have asthma...high risk.

I do wish the politicians would get out of the "prescribing" end of medicine, whether it's micro-managing comatose patients artificially kept alive, preventing abortions, or pain maintenance, and get into national health care so everyone has equal opportunity for decent health care.

[thingfisher]

6. Big pharma

unfortnately has a strangle hold on many of the institutions that train medical students and the only approach toward healing that is taught is the kind that relies on drugs . Medicine is not asn art but a for profit business these days. To bad for sick people.

[leQ]

2. if my legalese is up to date, this is good news (eom)

[williesgirl]

4. Now, if VA would only vote for this it would help my daughter. recommended