Medical marijuana advocates bash Dayton, urge him to back law

Marijuana advocates punched back at Gov. Mark Dayton on Wednesday for refusing to support legalizing medical marijuana and bashed his proposal for a medical study that they say would be of no use to patients.

"For Governor Dayton to say he is working in the best interest of my daughter is disingenuous," said Maria Botker, a mother from Clinton whose daughter, Greta, suffers from epilepsy.

Dayton, in turn, urged the families and medical marijuana advocates to reconsider his offer of spending $2 million for a study. The measure could allow their children to become part of the test trial and potentially provide relief, as well as provide solid medical research on what has been a controversial topic.

"If advocates agree to the compromise solution my administration has proposed — which I believe would provide their children with the medication and relief they need as quickly as possible — then something can be accomplished on this issue this session," Dayton said.

The governor and lawmakers have spent considerable time on the issue this year. The Wednesday news conference was deeply emotional, with teary parents coming to the podium one by one to criticize Dayton. At one point, even the bill's sponsor, DFL Rep. Carly Melin, began to tear up at the podium after parents described the seizures and suffering by their children.

On the other side, law enforcement organizations have expressed grave concerns about the potential for medical marijuana to get into the hands of both minors and drug abusers. Health department officials are concerned that none of the medical benefits alleged by advocates have been proven.

Dayton and legislators must navigate the issue as polling in Minnesota and around the nation shows growing support for legalizing medical marijuana.

The governor said he is not advocating criminal activity.

"I cannot, and I do not, advocate breaking the law," Dayton said. "But as a father I understand parents who would do anything possible to help their children."

Even if Dayton's opposition weakens, serious doubts remain about whether advocates have the votes in the Legislature to get the measure to the governor's desk.

"I believe we have the votes," said Melin, DFL-Hibbing.

Another sponsor of the bill, Rep. Andrea Kieffer, said the vote would be strongly bipartisan.