Dear neighbor,
Today, the House passed legislation that would essentially legalize marijuana for medical purposes. While I certainly want those experiencing pain to get the care they need, this bill could be ripe for abuse should it become law. The language of this bill empowers the Commissioner of the Department of Health empowered to approve any method of use and administration of medical marijuana by patients (aside from smoking). Furthermore, this bill lacks proper safeguards to protect those who believe using medical marijuana will help alleviate their suffering given the fact marijuana can have long-term damaging effects on the brain. The Senate passed a very different medical marijuana bill so a conference committee will meet to work out the differences between the two bills. Once the conference committee has reconciled the differences, identical versions of a medical marijuana bill will come before the House and Senate.
On Monday, we expect the bonding bill to come to the floor of the House. Like I’ve said previously, I remain a strong proponent of keeping the bonding bill at no more than $846 million. That number is based on an agreement made between Republican and Democrat legislative leaders last session. Even if it’s at or below the $846 million cap, it’s still no guarantee I will support the bonding bill. I’m hoping for a strong emphasis on roads, bridges, and infrastructure – particularly in rural areas. We shouldn’t be borrowing money for wasteful projects and have our kids and grandkids pay the bill for it in future years.
As always, I can be reached via email at rep.steve.green@house.mn. To contact me by phone, call (651) 296-9918. Mail can be sent to Rep. Steve Green, 231 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.
Sincerely,
Steve