Tag: cannabis

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: November 13, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I wanted to share a reminder about the “Be Heard on Cannabis” Community Conversation taking place Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Eden Prairie Community Center. This is an issue on the minds of many Minnesotans, and as we discuss potentially legalizing cannabis for recreational use by adults, we need to move forward thoughtfully and responsibly. Having all perspectives at the table is critical, so I hope you can join us to listen, learn and share your thoughts.

Be Heard on Cannabis Eden Prairie

What: Be Heard on Cannabis Community Conversation
When: Monday, November 18, 6:30 PM
Where: Eden Prairie Community Center, Cambria Room
Who: Hosted by Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Assistant Senate Minority Leader Jeff Hayden, Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, Rep. Laurie Pryor, Rep. Brad Tabke, Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, with Special Guests Doug Friednash, Former Colorado Legislator and Former Chief of Staff to Gov. John Hickenlooper, and Stanley Garnett, Former District Attorney for Boulder County

If you can’t make it, feel free to share your feedback with me directly. I value your input on this and other issues.

Sincerely,

Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn
State Representative

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: November 13, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I wanted to share a reminder about the “Be Heard on Cannabis” Community Conversation taking place Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Eden Prairie Community Center. This is an issue on the minds of many Minnesotans, and as we discuss potentially legalizing cannabis for recreational use by adults, we need to move forward thoughtfully and responsibly. Having all perspectives at the table is critical, so I hope you can join us to listen, learn and share your thoughts.

Be Heard on Cannabis Community Conversation

When: Monday, November 18, 6:30 PM
Where: Eden Prairie Community Center, Cambria Room
Who: Hosted by Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Assistant Senate Minority Leader Jeff Hayden, Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, Rep. Laurie Pryor, Rep. Brad Tabke, Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, with Special Guests Doug Friednash, Former Colorado Legislator and Former Chief of Staff to Gov. John Hickenlooper, and Stanley Garnett, Former District Attorney for Boulder County

If you can’t make it, feel free to share your feedback with me directly. I value your input on this and other issues.

Sincerely,

Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn
State Representative

DFL Leaders Host Community Conversation on Cannabis in Minneapolis

House DFL logoMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – Today, Majority Leader Ryan Winkler hosted a community conversation on cannabis with Assistant Senate Minority Leader Jeff Hayden, Sens. Bobby Joe Champion, Kari Dziedzic, and Foung Hawj; Reps. Raymond Dehn, Aisha Gomez, Fue Lee, and Diane Loeffler; and Associate Professor at Metro State University Dr. Raj Sethuraju at the Minneapolis Urban League.

The meeting was the second of 15 hosted by Rep. Winkler and legislators around the state to encourage Minnesotans to join the conversation on how to legalize and regulate cannabis for adult use.

“Minnesotans are asking us to change our cannabis laws because they are doing more harm than good,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “It’s been clear in our conversations that our current system is contributing to racial injustice, damaging public health, and limiting access for veterans.” Continue reading “DFL Leaders Host Community Conversation on Cannabis in Minneapolis”

DFL lawmakers to roll out “Responsible on Cannabis” series of legislative proposals

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Tuesday at noon, Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division, and Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee, will be joined for a news conference by authors of legislation to change Minnesota’s cannabis policies. The legislators will preview bills scheduled for public hearings later in the afternoon as part of a “Responsible on Cannabis Day” event.

WHAT: “Responsible on Cannabis” press conference
WHEN: Tuesday, March 5, 2019, 11:30 AM
WHERE: Press Conference Room B971, Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55155
WHO:

  • Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), Chair, House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Division
  • Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul), Chair, House Health and Human Services Policy Committee
  • Rep. Raymond Dehn (DFL – Minneapolis)
  • Rep. Jack Considine (DFL – Mankato)
  • Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL – Brooklyn Center)

Why Paulsen should support the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act

By Nick Etten, MinnPost Community Voices

22 Veterans commit suicide dailyAs a former Navy SEAL officer turned veterans advocate, I hope our lawmakers will be inspired by their time spent on Memorial Day in somber remembrance of the fallen to redouble their support of the returned.

America’s veterans are in crisis. On average, 22 veterans commit suicide every day. Veterans suffer chronic severe pain at rates disproportionately higher than their civilian counterparts (roughly 40 percent higher, according to the National Institutes of Health), helping explain why the opioid crisis has hit veterans at a rate two times the national average. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), upwards of 20 percent of the 2.7 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans will experience post-traumatic stress or depression.

While VA physicians are quick to prescribe powerful drug cocktails (opiates and benzodiazepines) in response to these and other service-related conditions, the federal government continues to deny veterans legal access to a demonstrably safer alternative treatment option: medical cannabis.

Continue reading “Why Paulsen should support the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act”