ST. PAUL – Do you want to legalize marijuana in Minnesota?
Recently a number of state Democratic lawmakers announced legislation designed to make marijuana more accessible in our state.
State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Vernon Center), who chairs the Minnesota House Public Safety Committee, expects the legalized pot plans to go up in smoke.
“It has no future whatsoever,” Cornish said. “If my 32 years of law enforcement experience has shown me anything it’s that marijuana is definitely a precursor to more-serious drugs. I've talked to too many parents who were at home worrying or sitting in the benches of a courtroom, watching their kids go through drug court. These parents have told me not to legalize marijuana, as it is really a ‘gateway drug’ leading to more drug use. They believe this in their hearts as they've lived through it, and so do I.”
Because medicinal marijuana is now legal in Minnesota, Cornish believes the Democrats ultimately want to make it widely available in our state. He said that’s a big mistake, and noted that neither the House, Senate, Governor’s Office, or law enforcement support these proposals.
“The Democrats believe full-blown marijuana legalization is coming sooner or later, so you might as well start taxing and regulating it now,” Cornish said. “I disagree, and even though Minnesota might make billions of dollars by taxing it, I’m not selling my soul for profit.”
“With all we have to worry about this session, whether it’s setting a budget or reforming our health insurance system, it’s crazy that the liberals are promoting a bill that will pass neither legislative body and that Governor Dayton will refuse to sign,” Cornish concluded.