Minnesota Lawyer
DFL Rep. Carly Melin
Advocates of legalizing marijuana use for medicinal purposes claim that they have 40 co-sponsors for legislation that will be introduced on Thursday.
According to Minnesotans for Compassionate Care, they have lined up 35 co-sponsors in the House and five in the Senate.
“People suffering from diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis should be able to access medical marijuana safely and use it without fear of being arrested,” said Heather Azzi, the group’s political director, in a statement.
Rep. Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing, will be the lead author of the House bill. Also listed as a sponsor is Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar. Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, will sponsor legislation in the Senate.
The bill is unlikely to make any progress this legislative session, given that policy deadlines have long since passed. But by introducing it now the proposal could be teed up for discussion next year.
Currently 20 states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized medicinal use of marijuana.
