Dayton appoints members to medical marijuana task force

Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday named the 16 members appointed to a Task Force that will oversee and evaluate the impact of medical marijuana in Minnesota.
The Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research was created when the Minnesota Legislature last May passed a bill legalizing the use of medical marijuana for a limited number of maladies. It is among the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the nation.

The task force of health care providers, law enforcement, consumers and their parents from throughout the state make up the committee. Their terms are effective July 15 through Jan. 5, 2015.

Here are the members:

James Backstrom – Hastings, MN
Minnesota County Attorneys Association Representative

Duane Bandel – Minneapolis, MN
Consumer Member

Maria Botker – Clinton, MN
Parent Member

Dennis Flaherty – St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Representative

James Franklin – St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Sheriff's Association Representative

Dr. Pamela Gonzalez – Minneapolis, MN
Substance Use Treatment Provider

David Hartford – St. Cloud, MN
Substance Use Treatment Provider

Dr. Vincent Hayden – Minneapolis, MN
Substance Use Treatment Provider

Chief David Kolb – Champlin, MN
Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association Representative

Jeremy Pauling – Montevideo, MN
Parent Member

Dr. Charles Reznikoff – Minneapolis, MN
Health Care Provider

Laura Schwartzwald – Aitkin, MN
Pharmacist Member

Sarah Wellington –St. Paul, MN
Consumer Member

Dr. Dawn Wyllie – Bemidji, MN
Health Care Provider