By MIKE KASZUBA and PAT DOYLE, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: May 22, 2009 - 11:42 PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed an emotionally charged proposal late Friday to allow terminally ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes.

Pawlenty, who in 2008 set an apparent single-year record for most vetoes by a Minnesota governor, indicated in a letter that he was torn by the medical marijuana legislation. He said that while he was "sympathetic to those dealing with end-of-life illnesses," he felt marijuana poses "serious public safety and health risks." Legalizing marijuana, even under limited conditions, "could serve to compound these problems," he wrote.
Galaxy Reviewed by Galaxy on . MN - Medical marijuana passes last House committee Medical marijuana passes last House committee By Andy Birkey 5/8/09 2:37 PM Minnesota??s medical marijuana bill cleared its last committee in the Minnesota House of Representatives, paving the way for a House vote. It passed the House Finance Committee by a bipartisan vote of 17??6 after no debate. Several major changes were made to the bill to appease law enforcement. ??I have tried to accommodate concerns along the way,? Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) told the committee. Rating: 5