Veterans’ issues were the focus as a bill to legalize recreational marijuana cleared its second committee Tuesday in the Minnesota House. Jeremy Sankey with Minnesota Veterans for Cannabis told lawmakers:
“This is a quality of life issue for veterans. And to those that say, cannabis doesn’t help with PTSD, let me tell you: The number of 22 veterans a day (who commit suicide) would be a lot higher — a lot higher (without cannabis).”
He’s talking about veterans who commit suicide. But Steve Kalina with Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association warns legalizing recreational marijuana is problematic for the state’s numerous high-tech industries:
“Ask yourself, would you want someone under the influence producing the life-saving device that goes into your child, or assembling the brake lines in your car?”
The bill must still clear a number of committees before a House floor vote. Republicans who control the Minnesota Senate strongly oppose it.
