Yesterday, medical marijuana’s House supporters announced a big compromise they hope will be amenable to law enforcement and signed into law by pot unfriendly Gov. Mark Dayton.
The compromise, announced at a Capitol news conference by House Speaker Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis), Majority Leader Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul), and Rep. Carly Melin (D-Minneapolis), “would create a medical cannabis clinical trial, allowing limited participation by children who are suffering and adults with severe illnesses,” a House DFL news release says. The bill gets it’s first hearing today, and could potentially pass before the end of the session.
“The proposal also includes the option of a state-based manufacturer of medication if no federal source of medication is available,” it continues.
Qualifying conditions for the medical trial would include seizures (including those characteristic with epilepsy), cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Tourette’s syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Crohn’s disease.
The bill wouldn’t allow anybody to actually smoke marijuana. Instead, patients would vaporize pot, “but only under direct, in-person supervision and the control of a licensed health care provider.”
Melin isn’t totally thrilled about the deal, but says it’s better than nothing.
“Our goal since the beginning has been to provide needed medicine to Minnesotans and children who are suffering and deserve a better chance at a good life,” she says in the statement. “I am pleased that we have developed a proposal that can provide real relief for Minnesotans who need it and that has a strong chance at getting signed into law.”
For more, check out the Minneapolis City Pages.