ITG

Pawlenty Says He Will Veto Medical Marijuana Bill
05/19/09 | Minnesota Independent | Andy Birkey

Gov. Tim Pawlenty told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that he will definitely veto a medical marijuana bill that passed the state Legislature on Monday. But, he added, “I have great empathy for the sick.”

Legislators on both sides of the aisle watered down the bill by eliminating the ability for patients to grow their own marijuana, limiting the bill only to patients who are terminally ill and adding a sunset date two years from enactment, but none of those concessions appear to have affected Pawlenty’s opinion of the bill.

Heather Azzi of the Marijuana Policy Project, one of many groups lobbying for the bill, said in an email Tuesday afternoon, “He is going to exercise his power to make sure dying patients, and their family and friends, continue to face arrest and jail for simply trying to alleviate their pain.”

Advocates say that with majority support in the legislature and among Minnesota voters, they will bypass Pawlenty with a Constitutional amendment next year.

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I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.

medivape

Wow, talk about giving the finger to the sick and dying. I hope people realize it's just a matter of time before they too join that group. As Morrison once wrote "No one here gets out alive." I think in time even those who don't prefer to use marijuana will a least see it's not this evil thing old, white, conservative, brainwashed individuals make it out to be and join those in favor of at least medical marijuana. And it's that type of harsh tone and arrogance I hope will draw more attention to this issue. Let's try to keep medical marijuana buzzing in the mainstream media and hopefully that will open the door for legalization.

t-1000

Is this really necessary? Have you seen Obama's reaction to the suggestion of legal marijuana?

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BudSmoker92

Well from what I know, States can now pass their own laws on it and not be interfered with by the DEA. We will have to deal with Obama when it is time for national legalization, that is, if he is still in office by then.

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medivape

Yes I have and think he would be more open to the idea if Congress passed legislation for him to sign.

I'm talking about the old fuckers who are dead set against it and wouldn't budge an inch on the issue even if the facts were staring them in the face. Take John McCain for instance, a perfect example:

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"Freedom soon will come; Then we'll come from the shadows." -- Leonard Cohen

Frylok

Right back at ya pal, from the sick people you want to suffer. Good luck next election.

Larkins

... Wow ... just ... wow ...

I bet he's afraid some terminally ill cancer or AIDS patient is going to use their right to obtain cannabis legally to turn around and sell it to pre-schoolers.

Douche.

StonerTaz

How much do you guys wanna bet that if the shoe was on the other foot and he was going to die a slow painful wasting type of death that he would be smoking it as well?

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"of the things I have lost. I miss my mind the most" Ozzy Osborne

Larkins

Nah ... I think I get it.

He must be dealing.

He's just trying to protect his profits. He knows he can squeeze those terminally ill patients for everything they've got for some quality relief and he doesn't want some legal structure coming in and deflating the price (or at least putting some of the profit back into the state government rather than his pocket).

Vesey

Non-toxic medicine remains illegal? I don't get it. Everyone, especially the terminally ill, should have access to any medicine that helps them. Just because it's unpopular with the misinformed does not give a moral right to deny people relief. Disgusting situation as ever.

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