Medical Marijuana in Mn

Minnesota currently is a "decriminalized" Marijuana state; possession of a small amount is subject to civil penalties - a fine. Small amounts of Marijuana will not send you to jail (unless you find a way to ramp it up, like failure to pay your ticket, which could result in arrest and some time in a holding pen). In 2009, Governor Tim Pawlenty vetoed a Medical MJ bill; since then, there have been no serious attempts to put Medical MJ legislation in place.
   Minnesota has spent a number of years creating a harsh legal fiction to combat Marijuana production. A series of court decisions have set the stage for railroading anyone caught growing pot straight into jail. In MN, legal precedent now in place considers the act of growing Marijuana the same as distributing Marijuana. So, any Chemtherapy patient caught growing their own medicine would be prosecuted the same way a Crystal Meth lab owner would be - with similar penalties attached. Sound to you lame?
   There a a number of compelling arguments backing up the legalization movement, and I will not bother going in to them here. The arguments against legalization are almost all flimsy, based on lies, misconceptions,  o plain old prejudice. The only argument I can give any weight to at all, is the "Gateway drug" aregument - that research shows that Marijuana can be many drug addicts first drug experience, and MAY lead to the use of stronger drugs.I mention this argument because it is difficult to refute - many people who eventually go on to become addicted to strong narcotics ARE exposed to Marijuana first. I respond to that issue by bringing up smoking cigarettes - they are THE ULTIMATE Gateway drug. Tobacco use is far more common as a Gateway drug than Marijuana - and it is legal and socially accepted (sort of).
   It is a massive injustice to criminalize marijuana use, production, posession and sales. Decades of law enforcement has been unable to make a dent in its use. It is in no danger of disappearing; why are we not taxing it? How can our government fail to follow the clear desires of its people? Who is benefitting from Marijuana Prohibition?
   As the economy slowly deflates, we will no doubt see an increase in local marijuana production. A cash crop could not be created to be easier to grow - its a tenacious weed! In the coming years, will we Minnesotans continue to allow our elected officials screw us over like this? Or, are we going to finally make this a priority in our elections? I for one intent to make this a key issue in my political decisions over the next decade. Getting involved, making appointments to speak with my elected officials, email campaigns, and social networking are all in the cards.