MN Senate Panel Strips Smoking from Medical Pot Bill
ST. PAUL - A Minnesota Senate finance panel has approved a medical marijuana bill that would not permit smoking the drug.
Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, says he reluctantly included the smoking prohibition to appease opponents of his measure.
The legislation would allow using a vaporizer in non-public places to inhale marijuana.
Friday's changes came the day after Rep. Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing, and House leaders introduced a bill for a limited clinical trial for medical marijuana.
Law enforcement says it won't oppose that proposal.
But the House attempt at a compromise has caused a rift among medical marijuana supporters, some of whom say they feel betrayed.
Like the version that passed the Senate committee Friday, the latest House version would also prohibit smoking marijuana.