Pawlenty vetoes Minn. medical marijuana bill

Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, who, you may remember, was on a number of "short lists" for the Republican vice presidential nomination, has vetoed the medical marijuana bill passed by the state legislature. His veto message said he was concerned about medmar production without federal supervision. He doesn't seem to be much of a states-rights Republican; in fact he sounds like a bit of a moron -- that hasn't been a concern or problem in any of the13 states with medical marijuana laws. Apparently some Minnesota voices are expressing dismay.

Medical marijuana progress

The state senate in Minnesota has given preliminary approval to a medical marijuana bill. It's not a sure thing yet, but an important step.

Meanwhile, in Michigan, the state's medical marijuana law, approved by voters last November, officially went into effect, with the Dept. of Community Health issuing about 150 patient ID cards. The department has received about 700 applications and is processing them deliberately.Here's the Website of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association. Apparently implementation is not without kinks, but state authorities seem to be trying to comply with the law rather than resisting or dragging their feet.

New Hampshire voting on medical marijuana

The New Hampshire legislature was scheduled to vote today on medical marijuana as well as several other bills considered controversial or unusual.. Finally found word (should have gone to MPP first!) that it passed the New Hampshire Senate today, and a similar bill passed the Minnesota Senate. In addition, Rhode Island the Senate passed a bill to establis "compassion cnters." A big day for the movement.

Drug law reform in the air

The pace of drug law reform is beginning to be almost breathtaking. New York legislators, after years of effort and a number of false starts, have voted to repeal the worst aspects of the notorious "Rockefeller" drug laws passed in the 1970s, which featured some of the harshest mandatory minimum sentences for mere possession of small amounts of drugs. Alternative sentencing, to treatment instead of prison, will be increased. Some details remain to be worked out, but this is big news.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota a medical marijuana bill cleared the House Public Safety Committee and appears to be on its way toward legislative approval. Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper has been doing yeoman work supporting it. In Maine, which has had a medical marijuana law on the books, there's a move to create state-licensed stores.

In Maryand a state legislator is pushing a bill to require the creation of a state task force to study medical marijuana. In New Hampshire, where legislatoirs have tried and failed to pass a medical marijuana bill several times recently, another effort is underway and supporters think it has a better chance this time. In New Jersey a medical marijuana bill has bassed the state senate but faces an uncertain fate in the assembly, though Gov. Jon Corzine says he would sign it. Michigan's medical marijuana law officially goes into effect April 4.

And so it goes.