Votetracker

SORT VOTES BY: Name | District | Party | Vote House Ways and Means Committee approval
May 7, 2007 (SF345)

The bill passed the committee on a 14-to-9 vote.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Kathy Brynaert	DFL	23B	AGAINST
Lyndon Carlson	DFL	45B	FOR
Karen Clark	DFL	61A	FOR
Matt Dean	Republican	52B	AGAINST
Kent Eken	DFL	02A	FOR
Ron Erhardt	Republican	41A	AGAINST
Bob Gunther	Republican	24A	AGAINST
Bill Hilty	DFL	08A	FOR
Thomas Huntley	DFL	07A	FOR
Phyllis Kahn	DFL	59B	FOR
Margaret Anderson Kelliher	DFL	60A	FOR
Ann Lenczewski	DFL	40B	AGAINST
Carlos Mariani	DFL	65B	FOR
Denny McNamara	Republican	57B	AGAINST
Erin Murphy	DFL	64A	FOR
Mary Murphy	DFL	06B	AGAINST
Dennis Ozment	Republican	37B	FOR
Erik Paulsen	Republican	42B	AGAINST
Anthony Sertich	DFL	05B	FOR
Loren Solberg	DFL	03B	FOR
Steve Sviggum	Republican	28B	FOR
Marsha Swails	DFL	56B	AGAINST
Ken Tschumper	DFL	31B	FOR

Senate final passage
May 3, 2007 (SF345)

The bill allowing the use of medical marijuana passed on a 35-to-29 vote.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Ellen R. Anderson	DFL	66	FOR
Thomas M. Bakk	DFL	06	FOR
Linda Berglin	DFL	61	FOR
Don Betzold	DFL	51	FOR
Terri Bonoff	DFL	43	FOR
Jim Carlson	DFL	39	FOR
Satveer Chaudhary	DFL	50	FOR
Tarryl Clark	DFL	15	FOR
Richard J. Cohen	DFL	64	FOR
Dick Day	Republican	26	AGAINST
D. Scott Dibble	DFL	60	FOR
John Doll	DFL	40	FOR
Sharon Erickson Ropes	DFL	31	FOR
Michelle L. Fischbach	Republican	14	AGAINST
Leo T. Foley	DFL	47	FOR
Dennis R. Frederickson	Republican	21	AGAINST
Chris Gerlach	Republican	37	AGAINST
Joe Gimse	Republican	13	AGAINST
David Hann	Republican	42	AGAINST
Linda Higgins	DFL	58	FOR
Bill Ingebrigtsen	Republican	11	AGAINST
Debbie J. Johnson	Republican	49	FOR
Michael J. Jungbauer	Republican	48	AGAINST
Amy Koch	Republican	19	AGAINST
Paul E. Koering	Republican	12	FOR
Gary W. Kubly	DFL	20	AGAINST
Keith Langseth	DFL	09	AGAINST
Dan Larson	DFL	63	FOR
Ron Latz	DFL	44	FOR
Warren Limmer	Republican	32	AGAINST
Tony Lourey	DFL	8	FOR
Ann Lynch	DFL	30	AGAINST
John Marty	DFL	54	FOR
James P. Metzen	DFL	39	FOR
Geoff Michel	Republican	41	FOR
Mee Moua	DFL	67	FOR
Steve Murphy	DFL	28	FOR
Thomas M. Neuville	Republican	25	AGAINST
Rick Olseen	DFL	17	AGAINST
Gen Olson	Republican	33	AGAINST
Mary Olson	DFL	4	AGAINST
Sandra L. Pappas	DFL	65	FOR
Pat Pariseau	Republican	36	AGAINST
Lawrence J. Pogemiller	DFL	59	FOR
Yvonne Prettner Solon	DFL	07	FOR
Ann H. Rest	DFL	45	FOR
Claire A. Robling	Republican	35	AGAINST
Julie A. Rosen	Republican	24	AGAINST
Sandy Rummel	DFL	53	AGAINST
Kathy Saltzman	DFL	56	FOR
Tom Saxhaug	DFL	03	AGAINST
Linda Scheid	DFL	46	FOR
David H. Senjem	Republican	29	AGAINST
Kathy Sheran	DFL	23	AGAINST
Katie Sieben	DFL	57	FOR
Rod Skoe	DFL	02	AGAINST
Dan Skogen	DFL	10	AGAINST
Dan Sparks	DFL	27	FOR
David J. Tomassoni	DFL	05	FOR
Patricia Torres Ray	DFL	62	FOR
Ray Vandeveer	Republican	52	AGAINST
Jim Vickerman	DFL	22	AGAINST
Betsy L. Wergin	Republican	16	AGAINST
Charles W. Wiger	DFL	55	FOR

Senate approval
May 1, 2007 (SF345)

The bill passed on a vote of 33-31.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Ellen R. Anderson	DFL	66	FOR
Thomas M. Bakk	DFL	06	FOR
Linda Berglin	DFL	61	FOR
Don Betzold	DFL	51	FOR
Terri Bonoff	DFL	43	FOR
Jim Carlson	DFL	39	FOR
Tarryl Clark	DFL	15	FOR
Richard J. Cohen	DFL	64	FOR
Dick Day	Republican	26	AGAINST
D. Scott Dibble	DFL	60	FOR
Steve Dille	Republican	18	AGAINST
John Doll	DFL	40	FOR
Sharon Erickson Ropes	DFL	31	FOR
Michelle L. Fischbach	Republican	14	AGAINST
Leo T. Foley	DFL	47	FOR
Dennis R. Frederickson	Republican	21	AGAINST
Chris Gerlach	Republican	37	AGAINST
Joe Gimse	Republican	13	AGAINST
David Hann	Republican	42	AGAINST
Linda Higgins	DFL	58	FOR
Bill Ingebrigtsen	Republican	11	AGAINST
Debbie J. Johnson	Republican	49	FOR
Michael J. Jungbauer	Republican	48	AGAINST
Amy Koch	Republican	19	AGAINST
Paul E. Koering	Republican	12	FOR
Gary W. Kubly	DFL	20	AGAINST
Keith Langseth	DFL	09	AGAINST
Dan Larson	DFL	63	FOR
Ron Latz	DFL	44	FOR
Warren Limmer	Republican	32	AGAINST
Tony Lourey	DFL	8	FOR
Ann Lynch	DFL	30	AGAINST
John Marty	DFL	54	FOR
James P. Metzen	DFL	39	FOR
Geoff Michel	Republican	41	FOR
Mee Moua	DFL	67	FOR
Steve Murphy	DFL	28	FOR
Thomas M. Neuville	Republican	25	AGAINST
Rick Olseen	DFL	17	AGAINST
Gen Olson	Republican	33	AGAINST
Mary Olson	DFL	4	AGAINST
Julianne E. Ortman	Republican	34	AGAINST
Sandra L. Pappas	DFL	65	FOR
Pat Pariseau	Republican	36	AGAINST
Lawrence J. Pogemiller	DFL	59	FOR
Yvonne Prettner Solon	DFL	07	FOR
Ann H. Rest	DFL	45	FOR
Claire A. Robling	Republican	35	AGAINST
Julie A. Rosen	Republican	24	AGAINST
Sandy Rummel	DFL	53	AGAINST
Kathy Saltzman	DFL	56	FOR
Tom Saxhaug	DFL	03	FOR
David H. Senjem	Republican	29	AGAINST
Kathy Sheran	DFL	23	AGAINST
Katie Sieben	DFL	57	FOR
Rod Skoe	DFL	02	AGAINST
Dan Skogen	DFL	10	AGAINST
Dan Sparks	DFL	27	AGAINST
David J. Tomassoni	DFL	05	FOR
Patricia Torres Ray	DFL	62	FOR
Ray Vandeveer	Republican	52	AGAINST
Jim Vickerman	DFL	22	AGAINST
Betsy L. Wergin	Republican	16	AGAINST
Charles W. Wiger	DFL	55	FOR

Senate Finance Committee approval
April 27, 2007 (SF345)

The bill cleared its final hurdle before going to the Senate floor when the Senate Finance Committee approved it on a voice vote.

Result: Passed

Senate Judiciary Committee approval
April 10, 2007 (SF345)

(From Senate Briefly)
S.F. 345, sponsored by Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing), defines "debilitating medical condition" to include cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, hepatitis C, Tourette's Syndrome, or chronic conditions that produce intractable pain, severe nausea, seizures or severe muscle spasms. It permits qualifying patients and primary caregivers to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana. Marijuana may only be purchased from registered organizations, which may possess up to 12 plants and 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana per patient they serve. Under the bill, patients may qualify only if a practitioner with whom they have a bona fide relationship provides a written recommendation that marijuana use could be beneficial for the patient. The bill makes it a gross misdemeanor to make fraudulent representations to law enforcement about medical marijuana use. If a qualified patient or primary caregiver makes fraudulent representations, the person is permanently banned from participating in the medical marijuana program. The bill also makes it a felony for a patient to sell or transfer the patient's identification card or marijuana obtained under medical pretenses.

"Marijuana is a drug," said Tom Lehman, representing Minnesotans for Compassionate Care. It is not to be abused or taken lightly, he said. This bill provides a safe harbor for a limited number of people, Lehman said, who may find it medically helpful. Beyond anecdotal stories from other states, numerous medical journals have reported the efficacy of marijuana in medical settings, he said. Lehman said children should not be underestimated. They are smart enough to know the difference between doctor-recommended marijuana use in a hospice and illicitly-obtained marijuana smoked in an alley, he said. Murphy stressed the limited number of conditions that permit patients to qualify. These are people with a grim outlook who should have one more option to manage their pain, he said.

Representatives of law enforcement spoke against the bill. Twelve plants is a lot of marijuana per patient, said Robert Bushman, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. It is far more than is reasonably needed, he said. Bushman said it is hard for patients and physicians to regulate the dose of THC, the principal active chemical, with smoked marijuana. States with medical marijuana laws have experienced significant over-recommending by physicians, he said. A lot of life-saving drugs have been developed but recalled or banned because of their public health risks, said Pete Jansky, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association. The bill creates an unnecessary exception for marijuana, he said. James Backstrom, Minnesota County Attorneys Association, said the medical marijuana use will result in increased illegal use. This bill has significant internal contradictions, said Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion. The lack of medical value in marijuana alone, he said, leads the Dept. of Public Safety, the Dept. of Health and the Governor's Office to oppose the measure.

Members adopted three amendments to the bill, all offered by Sen. Linda Higgins (DFL-Mpls.). The first amendment was primarily technical. One substantive change in the amendment clarifies that medical marijuana may not be smoked where the smoke may be inhaled by a minor. The second amendment clarifies that the bill does not permit the possession of marijuana on school grounds, prohibits qualifying patients from being affiliated with registered organizations, and requires registered organizations to grow marijuana only indoors. The third amendment removes a limit on the potency of marijuana dispensed. Higgins said the potency limit was unworkable.

Higgins also offered an amendment removing limits on how much marijuana a patient may receive in a 15-day period. The amendment failed on an announced tie. Sen. Thomas Neuville (R-Northfield) offered an amendment reducing the number of plants a registered organization may have from 12 per patient to four per patient. The amendment was not adopted.

In closing comments, Neuville said that while he has compassion for the patients targeted by the bill, there are too many problems with the measure. There is no regulation of price, he said, and no limit on how many registered organizations may exist to grow marijuana. Neuville said the appropriate forum to discuss permitting limited use of marijuana is at the federal level. The federal government can regulate marijuana growth, permit physicians to prescribe marijuana and provide for its dispensation by pharmacies, he said.

The measure was approved on a 5-4 roll call vote.

Result: Passed

House Public Safety and Civil Law Committee approval
March 19, 2007 (HF655)

The committee approved the bill by an 11-to-8 vote after an amendment was added taking away a provision that would have allowed individual patients to grow their own marijuana.

Result: Passed


More from MPR:
Over police objections, House committee OKs medical marijuana bill (Star Tribune) (03/19/2007)

House Health and Human Services Committee approval
March 9, 2007 (HF655)

Proponents characterized the bill as "tightly crafted." They said it would allow physicians and other health care providers to prscribe the drug for "debilitating medical conditions" such as cancer, glaucoma, intractible pain and HIV. Opponents contested its medicinal efficacy and warned committee members of further spread of the drug.

Result: Passed

Senate Health, Housing, and Family Security Committee approval
February 14, 2007 (SF345)

Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) authored the bill. S.F. 345 has strong support from healthcare professionals, Murphy said. The program will be modeled after programs in other states, Murphy said. Currently 11 other states allow medical use of marijuana, he said. This is a health issue, it's about helping people manage their pain, Murphy said. James Backstrom, county attorney for Dakota County, said the Minnesota County Attorney's Association and law enforcement officials across the state oppose the bill. There is no proven medical value of smoking marijuana; it is a dangerous and addictive drug that poses dangers to users, he said. Brackstrom also said that while the bill would allow medical use of marijuana, it would still be illegal under federal law. (From Senate Briefly)

Result: Passed