SupportersNumerous organizations and legislators support safe and legal access to medical marijuana for people with serious illnesses. Organizations:Minnesota organizations: Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Public Health Association, Minnesota AIDS Project, Minnesota Senior Federation, and United Food and Commerical Workers, Local 789. National organizations: Numerous national organizations have endorsed the medical access to marijuana, including the AIDS Action Council, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM), American Bar Association, American College of Physicians, American Nurses Association, American Preventive Medical Association, American Public Health Association, Consumer Reports magazine, Episcopal Church, Gray Panthers, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Lymphoma Foundation of America, National Association of People With AIDS, Presbyterian Church (USA), Progressive National Baptist Convention, Union of Reform Judaism (formerly Union of American Hebrew Congregations), Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, and United Nurses and Allied Professionals (Rhode Island). State organizations: Numerous state organizations have also endorsed medical access to marijuana including the Alaska Nurses Association, California Medical Association, California Nurses Association, California Pharmacists Association, Colorado Nurses Association, Connecticut Nurses Association, Hawaii Nurses Association, Illinois Nurses Association, Medical Society of the State of New York, Mississippi Nurses Association, New Mexico Medical Society, New Mexico Nurses Association, New York State Association of County Health Officials, New York State Hospice and Palliative Care Association, New York State Nurses Association, Rhode Island Medical Society, Rhode Island State Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Association, Wisconsin Nurses Association, and Wisconsin Public Health Association. Legislators:Minnesota's medical marijuana legislation has received widespread, bipartisan support, as well as the support of the legislature's top health experts. The lead sponsor on in the House is Representative Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth). Rep. Huntley serves as the lead representative for health-finance issues and is the chairman of the House Healthcare and Human Services Finance Division. Huntley is sponsoring H.F. 655 because it would put health care decisions where they belong: with doctors and patients. He stated: "Politicians in St. Paul should trust physicians to know what's best for their patients." Huntley is not alone is sponsoring this compassionate legislation. H.F. 655 was introduced with eighteen sponsors, including four Republicans. Co-sponsors include the former House speaker, Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon), the current majority leader, Anthony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm), and the chairman of the House Health Care and Human Services Policy Committee, Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis/Richfield). Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) is the lead sponsor of the Senate companion bill, S.F. 345. This bill was introduced with five sponsors (the most allowed by Senate rules), including three DFL'ers and two Republicans. The 17 House sponsors are: Rep. Thomas Huntley (DFL-Duluth) The 5 Senate sponsors are: Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing)
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