The Minnesota Independent

Medical Marijuana - Latest Stories

Barack Obama in Cannon Falls. Photo: Kathy Easthagen for the Minnesota Independent

Video: Obama dodges medical marijuana question in Cannon Falls

By Scot Kersgaard | 08.16.11 | 3:03 pm

Appearing in Cannon Falls, Minn., yesterday, President Barack Obama was asked about legalizing medical marijuana. His answer was beyond vague and not entirely supportive.

Medical marijuana advocates drop 2010 push, will wait ’til Pawlenty’s gone

By Andy Birkey | 03.02.10 | 9:00 am

Advocates of legalizing medical marijuana for chronically and terminally ill patients have decided to scale back their campaign to pass such legislation this year because of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto pen. In 2009, both chambers at the Capitol…

Ventura, pushing new book at HuffPost: Legalize it!

By Paul Schmelzer | 02.26.10 | 12:26 pm

Ventura bookFormer Gov. Jesse Ventura hawks his forthcoming book, “American Conspiracies: Lies, Lies, and More Dirty Lies that the Government Tells Us,” with a column at Huffington Post today in which he decries the “staggering” hypocrisy of the

Minnesotans can’t smoke medical marijuana, but could they grow it?

By Andy Birkey | 02.18.10 | 9:00 am

A bipartisan bill introduced in the Minnesota House on Monday could give the state’s agricultural sector a boost in the form of a new cash crop: medical marijuana. Gov. Tim Pawlenty last year vetoed an effort to legalize medical cannibis,…

Chief medical marijuana backer: Bill’s future in the Legislature uncertain

By Andy Birkey | 01.29.10 | 11:24 am

Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Winona, has been the chief backer of a bill to allow medical marijuana for seriously ill patients, but he’s not sure whether there will be a push for it this session. To make matters worse for medical marijuana backers, Murphy is retiring at the end of the session.

Medical marijuana will be back at the capitol in 2010

By Andy Birkey | 01.20.10 | 11:27 am

When Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill last spring that would’ve allowed chronically ill patients to use marijuana medicinally, advocates vowed to take the issue to the people in the form of a constitutional amendment. But as the 2010 legislative session nears, medical marijuana groups say they’ll take a more measured approach and work with law enforcement and the governor one last time.

Obama won’t prosecute medical marijuana users in states where it’s legal

By Andy Birkey | 10.19.09 | 11:35 am

Although medical marijuana use is still illegal on the federal level, the Obama administration said today that it won’t go after patients or their providers in states where it is legal.

The medical marijuana veto and Daniel Hauser

By Andy Birkey | 05.27.09 | 2:40 pm

Two Minnesota headlines have collided this week. Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a medical marijuana bill citing concerns by law enforcement who say the bill would increase marijuana use throughout the state. And 13-year-old Daniel Hauser is court ordered…

Pawlenty vetoes medical marijuana, supporters vow to push amendment

By Andy Birkey | 05.25.09 | 2:09 pm

Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill to legalize marijuana for terminally ill patients late Friday evening, saying he sides with law enforcement opposition to the bill. Bill proponents say they will introduce a constitutional amendment to bypass the governor, noting overwhelming popular support in the state on the issue.

Medical marijuana backers to lose GOP lobbyist

By Andy Birkey | 05.24.09 | 9:17 am

49aFormer Rep. Chris Delaforest, R-Andover, will be joining his Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s staff this summer as Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs. Delaforest retired from the legislature in 2008 and became…