GOP State Rep. In Minnesota Defends Marijuana Legalization, While Law Enforcement Raises Concerns

Republican Rep. Nolan West told the Minnesota House on April 25 why marijuana prohibition makes no sense. He ironically cited a few reasons why cannabis should be illegal. 

“Last year, it killed 480,000 people. Oops, never mind, that was tobacco, sorry. 140,000. Marijuana killed 140,000 people last year. Oh. Alcohol. Sorry. Got my numbers mixed up here. Oh, 500, it's gotta be 500. This is a dangerous illegal substance. We must ban it, we can’t let it be legal. Five hundred people died. Oh, that’s Tylenol. We are talking about substance with no lethality. The time for marijuana prohibition is over. It's been over for some time. The war on drugs was an abject failure.” 

Minnesota has never been so close to legalizing marijuana, with both the state Senate and House recently passing two companion cannabis bills. However, not all Minnesotans seem to be pleased about the upcoming reform.

Local Enforcement Concerned About Road Safety And No Testing Methods

Local law enforcement figures are raising concerns around marijuana legalization, its possible effects on road safety and their department protocols reported Lakeland PBS.

While the measure assigns $10 million in the first year for drug recognition experts (DREs) and supports the creation of roadside test pilot projects, the police are worried about not being able to measure cannabis impairment, as it does for alcohol, which is a legitimate concern. No reliable screening solutions for cannabis impairment have yet been developed in the U.S. because THC does not affect people the same way alcohol and other drugs do. The lack of such a mechanism has complicated the national rollout. Tech companies and scientists are racing to develop such a test.

Law enforcement is also concerned that DRE training will require officers to travel out of state, leaving their departments short-staffed.

Another concern expressed by the police was how cannabis use would affect other industries related to law enforcement, like mental health providers.

More Opponents On The Same Page

GOP state Rep. Rich Draheim issued a statement Sunday explaining his vote against the legalization measures.

“The simple truth is that governing is far, far more complicated than polling. As a legislator, I have a responsibility to vote based on the specific details of each bill, not merely on the popularity of the high-level idea,” Draheim stated.

“I voted no on the legal cannabis bill that Senate Democrats wrote because despite being a 300+ page monstrosity of regulations, rules, fees, and bureaucracy, the bill still falls woefully short in several key areas. It will put our communities and young people at risk.”

In addition to focusing on children's safety, Draheim also highlighted the importance of having garnering resources for roadside tests or “clear standards to ensure safe roads.

“This bill doesn’t provide the necessary funding for local law enforcement training or resources to handle the increased calls and complaints related to cannabis use,” Draheim. wrote, concluding that “the bill that Senate Democrats created was a poor solution to this complicated issue."

Judson Bemis, a co-chair of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Minnesota wrote an opinion piece arguing against legalization.

"Protection of public health is an afterthought, as shown by industry advocates outnumbering medical experts six to one on the Cannabis Advisory Council." 

He also stressed the problem of not having a test like a breathalyzer to ascertain if drivers are impaired. 

Bemis concluded that “legislators should reject the adult-use bill, or at least should pause it for further study.” 

Photo: Courtesy of M. Maggs from Pixabay