Today's Question Blog

Should a medical marijuana proposal be scaled back to appease law enforcement?

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"Supporters of legislation to legalize medical marijuana in Minnesota are considering a new approach for the 2014 session, and the potential changes are winning the backing of some law enforcement groups.

"State Rep. Carly Melin, the chief author of the bill in the Minnesota House is working on a much narrower proposal that would allow only the use of some non-narcotic, marijuana-derived chemicals," writes MPR News reporter Tim Pugmire.

Medical marijuana advocates have faced unyielding opposition from the state's big law enforcement organizations, and Gov. Mark Dayton has repeatedly said he won't sign a bill that those groups oppose. But Melin, DFL-Hibbing, said law enforcement is now showing some interest in a compromise version of her bill, which she thinks the governor could eventually sign.

"They want to limit it to pills or liquid-form consumption, rather than the traditional inhalation of marijuana or what you would consider smoking marijuana," Melin said. "They want that out of the bill entirely. So, we're looking to other states and having conversations with patients and the medical community to see what the reality is of moving in that direction."

Today's Question: Should a medical marijuana proposal be scaled back to appease law enforcement?