Pawlenty vetoes medical marijuana, signs seat belt and legacy amendment bills

Pawlenty addresses new budget gap
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty
MPR Photo/Tim Nelson

Pawlenty also signed the Legacy Amendment, which will fund outdoors and arts projects through a new sales tax.

In his veto message of the medical marijuana bill, Pawlenty said he is "very sympathetic to those dealing with end-of-life illnesses and accompanying pain."

But the governor repeated that he shares law enforcement concerns about expanded drug use.

Pawlenty notes that the bill would have allowed marijuana to be produced and distributed for medical purposes without any federal oversight.

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Seat belt bill signed

The bill gives police the ability to pull over and ticket motorists solely because they or their passengers aren't buckled up.

Currently, law enforcement must spot another traffic offense to make the stop. The seat belt violation carries a $25 fine.

Legacy amendment also approved

Pawlenty also signed the Legacy Amendment legislation that provides money to outdoor and arts projects with only one, $200,000, line-item veto.

The money comes from a constitutional amendment voters approved last fall which will raise the sales tax by 3/8 percent for 25 years. The tax is expected to raise more than $230 million in the next year.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)