The Minnesota legislature reconvenes Tuesday, April 22, and will scramble to conclude business by May 19. One high profile issue, the legalization of medical marijuana, enjoys overwhelming popular support, according to recent polling.
And yet as Forum Communications’ veteran political reporter Don Davis reports in his Minnesota political notebook: Minnesota marijuana issue remains clouded. Davis writes:
Medical marijuana legislation stalled in the Legislature until Dayton told reporters that lawmakers were “hiding behind their desks” from the issue. That prompted Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, D-Cook, to kick the issue into committee meetings.
The Senate measure awaits a vote, while a House bill sits in a committee.
Dayton says he will not sign a medical marijuana bill until law enforcement and medical organizations get behind one.
Curious where your legislator stands? Bluestem Prairie has assembled a chart of what is publicly known about Minnesota House members’ positions on Representative Carly Melin’s (DFL-Hibbing) HF1818 and HF2383, the identical “overlflow” bill filed by David FitzSimmons (R-Albertville) and five others after the maximum lawmakers allowed under House rules signed on to HF1818.
UPDATE: We neglected to include HF2099, another medical marijuana bill that’s fairly close to the other bills. It’s authored by Andrew Falk (DFL-Murdock) and co-sponsored by Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis) and Jay McNamar (DFL-Elbow Lake).
It’s posted below the fold, and we’re working on a chart for the Senate companion bill, SF1641.
This article is reposted from TCDP media partner Bluestem Prairie. Check out the links below for other recent Bluestem Prairie stories:
Just as in the minimum wage constituent’s whip count, Bluestem is asking readers to help fill in the blanks If your state representative hasn’t gone on record on the bill, please politely contact her or him (click on the link under the names; if you don’t know who represents you in the Minnesota House find out here) and ask her or him where sheor he stands on HF1818. No need to ask about the overflow bill. (When you get an answer, please email Bluestem your answer at sally.jo.sorensen {at} gmail.com or leave the answer in our comments.
We won’t publish your name or comment (absolutely NO temporary, fake, or spoofed emails acccepted in comments), but we do need to have documentation of constituent contact before we add the information you’ve collected to the Whip Count chart below the fold.
|
Name |
Stand 1818/2383/2099 |
Media reports |
Notes |
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Abeler, Jim (R) |
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Albright, Tony (R) |
Seeks law enforcement, medical profession nod |
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Allen, Susan (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Author of forfeiture bill HF1081 |
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Anderson, Mark (R) |
No |
THC pills already legal, no need for bill |
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Anderson, Paul (R) |
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Anderson, Sarah (R) |
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Anzelc, Tom (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Atkins, Joe (DFL) |
Patch: hopes for compromise |
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Barrett, Bob (R) |
No -statement |
Supports study for kids living w/ seizures |
Former Hazeldon exec |
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Beard, Michael (R) |
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Benson, John (DFL) |
“ardent supporter” |
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Benson, Mike (R) |
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Bernardy, C. (DFL) |
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Bly, David (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Brynaert, K (DFL) |
“seeks medical opinion” |
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Carlson, L. (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Sun Post 2/21 wants agreement |
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Clark, Karen (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Cornish, Tony (R) |
Bro in CA sees crime |
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Daudt, Kurt (R) House minority leader |
Says 3/17 bipartisan support and opposition/ 2/12 unlikely to pass |
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Davids, Greg (R) |
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Davnie, Jim (DFL) |
Yes- email |
To constituent; “ Whether we get to a vote this year or not is a different question.” |
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Dean, Matt (R) |
No –4/12 tweet |
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Dehn, R. (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Dettmer, Bob (R) |
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Dill, David (DFL) |
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Dorholt, Zachery (DFL) |
WJON 3/28 “completely supports bill” |
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Drazkowski, S (R) |
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Erhardt, Ron (DFL) |
Voted no 2007 bill in Ways & Means Com |
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Erickson, Roger (DFL) |
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Erickson, Sondra (R) |
Voted no 2007 bill in Health Care etc Com |
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Fabian, Dan (R) |
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Falk, Andrew (DFL) |
Author of 2099; co-author HF2383 |
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Faust, Tim (DFL) |
Kanabec Co Times LTE against coauthorship |
Removed name HR1818 |
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Fischer, Peter (DFL) |
Co-author HF2383 |
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Author HF2383 |
2383 is overflow 1818 |
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Franson, Mary (R) |
No-social media |
TC Daily Planet 2/7 |
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Freiberg, Mike (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Yes |
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Fritz, Patti (DFL) |
Will vote no |
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Garofalo, Pat (R) |
Co-author HF2383 Amendment on HHS Policy bill |
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Green, Steve (R) |
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Pioneer Press article on amendment |
Offered amendments limiting HF1818 |
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Gunther, Bob (R) |
House bill co-author |
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Hackbarth, Tom (R) |
Co-author HF1818 |
“wife is terminally ill” |
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Halverson, Laurie (DFL) |
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Hamilton, Rod (R) |
General opposition although living w/ MS |
In 2011 Strib article said that legalizing sends mixed message to kids |
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Hansen, Rick (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Spoke on floor of dying mother’s pain in 2009 |
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Hausman, Alice (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Medical pot supporter for over 10 years |
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Hertaus, Jerry (R) |
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Hilstrom, Debra (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Hoppe, Joe (R) |
No rush- look at CO and WA first |
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Hornstein, Frank (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Hortman, Melissa (DFL) |
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Howe, Jeff (R) |
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Huntley, Thomas (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Isaacson, Jason (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Johnson, Brian (R) |
Opposes bill |
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Johnson, Clark (DFL) |
MFP 3/15 “Sees value” in medical marijuana” Yes vote |
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Johnson, Sheldon (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Kahn, Phyllis (DFL) |
Yes/MCC list Co-author of HF2099 |
Authored 2011 bill for med pot as export crop
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Spoke to 2013 CLE training on bills Likely yes |
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Kelly, Tim (R) |
Co-author HF2383 |
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Kieffer, Andrea (R) |
Co-author HF1818 |
1818 press conference |
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Kiel, Debra (R) |
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Kresha, Ron (R) |
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Laine, Carolyn (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Leidiger, Ernie (R) |
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Lenczewski, Ann (DFL) |
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Lesch, John (DFL) |
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Liebling, Tina (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Chairs HHS Committee that heard bill |
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Lien, Ben (DFL) |
Supports |
Says science is there |
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Lillie, Leon (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Loeffler, Diane (DFL) |
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Lohmer, Kathy (R) |
No -supports Dayton |
Opposed ‘11 YouTube
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Loon, Jenifer (R) |
No |
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Mack, Tara (R) |
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Mahoney, Tim (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Mariani, Carlos (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Marquart, Paul (DFL) |
KVRR Fox 4/12 No, w/ law enforcement |
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Masin, Sandra (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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McDonald, Joe (R) |
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McNamar, Jay (DFL) |
Co-author HF2383 Co-author of HF2099 |
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McNamara, Denny (R) |
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Melin, Carly (DFL) |
Author HF1818 |
Drew applause by calling attention to drug war funding for law enforcement. |
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Metsa, Jason (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Moran, Rena (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Morgan, Will (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Mullery, Joe (DFL) |
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Murphy, Erin (DFL) Majority Leader |
Wants compromise wants health care |
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Murphy, Mary (DFL) |
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Myhra, Pam (R) |
with law enforcement |
Thought those working for medical marijuana support pot for fun |
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Nelson, Michael V. (DFL) |
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Newberger, Jim (R) |
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Newton, Jerry (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Nornes, Bud (R) |
No |
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Norton, Kim (DFL) |
Supports Dayton study No on HF1818 |
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O’Driscoll, Tim (R) |
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O’Neill, Marion (R) |
Former Teen Challenge employee |
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Paymar, Michael (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Pelowski Jr., Gene (DFL) |
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Peppin, Joyce (R) |
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Persell, John (DFL) |
“we use plant medicine all the time” |
Wants pill form |
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Petersburg, John (R) |
No |
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Poppe, Jeanne (DFL) |
Worth discussion Bill needs tightening |
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Pugh, Cindy (R) |
Sees value but respects law enforcement views |
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Quam, Duane (R) |
Willing to look if tightly controlled |
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Radinovich, Joe (DFL) |
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Rosenthal, Paul (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Runbeck, Linda (R) |
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Sanders, Tim (R) |
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Savick, Shannon (DFL) |
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Sawatzky, Mary (DFL) |
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Schoen, Dan (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Day job : police officer |
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Schomacker, Joe (R) |
Rock Co Star Herald 2/12 |
Talks about pros and cons |
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Scott, Peggy (R) |
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Selcer, Yvonne (DFL) |
Undecided |
Listening to doctors and patients |
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Simon, Steve (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
Details on support |
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Simonson, Erik (DFL) |
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Slocum, Linda (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Sundin, Mike (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Marshall Inpt 5/3/2013 No |
Fears it will encourage pot use by kids |
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Theis, Tama (R) |
KNSI 2/24 Implies interest in pill, vaporizer forms |
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Thissen, Paul (DFL) Speaker |
Davis/Forum 4/18 compromise w/ law enforcement needed |
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Torkelson, Paul (R) |
MFP 3/15 Wants very tight controls |
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Uglem, Mark (R) |
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Urdahl, Dean (R) |
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Wagenius, Jean (DFL) |
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Ward, JoAnn (DFL) |
Co-author HF1818 |
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Ward, John (DFL) |
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Wills, Anna (R) |
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Winkler, Ryan (DFL) |
Yes |
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Woodard, Kelby (R) |
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Yarusso, Barb (DFL) |
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Zellers, Kurt (R) |
No-gubernatorial bid statements |
MPR 3/27 No |
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Zerwas, Nick (R) |
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TOTAL |
Yes: 46 (includes media Y) No: 21 (includes media N) Undecided/Unknown 67
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We’ll update the Whip Count as new information comes in, and we will link to the Senate whip count when we have it constructed.
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