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With 12 states already in, and Minnesota seen as one of the most liberal states in the country, it was/is only a matter of time before marijuana was/is legalized for medical purposes.

But not if Gov. Pawlenty and law enforcement officials have anything to say about it.

Pawlenty has warned that he will veto any bill that reaches his desk. That denial may come sooner than anticipated, after the legislation passed in the senate and is in the process of being passed in the house. Also, Tuesday marked the start of an ad campaign throughout the state which asks supporters to call Pawlenty’s office and urge the governor to either sign off on the legislation or allow it to pass without his signature.

In Morrison County, it’s Sen. Paul Koering, R-District 12 who crossed party lines to vote in favor of the bill last year. He considers it a “compassion” issue, citing that the drug should not be considered a gateway drug by law enforcement. In discussing the issue with me Wednesday, Koering said that, if anything, alcohol should be considered a gateway drug. Marijuana, he said, has been supported by those within the medical profession as a way to ease the pain for those suffering from some terminal or chronic illnesses.

Morrison County GOP Chair Perry Nouis was intrigued by Koering’s support for S.F. 345, but pointed out that several state senate DFLers were in opposition of the bill.

Nouis sees the bill to legalize the “gateway drug” as a type of “gateway legislation.” While it may appear a stretch to some, Nouis wondered if “medical meth” would garnish support if this bill passed.

Personally, I would side with Koering. In my experiences with both alcohol and marijuana (and notice how I refuse to confess on this stage if those experiences are from personal use or incidental contact with other in college), I’ve never seen someone get amped up on marijuana and stumble to the ground, get in an accident or pick a fight. However, abuse of alcohol seems to lead to those things more often than not.

But I understand those like Nouis who see this as gateway legislation. Because it is. Even at the federal level, their are proposals for legislation being sponsored by representatives from numerous states. And those proposals don’t even include “medical use” as terminology.

I feel that marijuana has its benefits when used responsibly. Its use should be enforced just as alcohol is. You show up on the job drunk, you’re fired. You show up high, you’re fired. You get pulled over driving drunk, DUI. You get pulled over driving high, DUI.

There will be issues along the way, without question. But perhaps we should let the medical professionals make the recommendations. Alcohol can obviously dull pain, but doctors and nurses wouldn’t recommend patients suffering from cancer drink away the last days of their lives. However, there are many institutions and organizations who support marijuana for that exact purpose.

I don’t think marijuana is a gateway drug, but I do feel that S.F. 345 is gateway legislation. Not that it will lead to the legalization of cocaine or meth, but that it will one day lead to the legalization of marijuana for responsible adults.

Restrictions need to be made, age limits need to be set and taxes need to be collected. Perhaps society could benefit from the legalization of marijuana (gasp!). And maybe, just maybe, the economy would benefit as well (gasp! gasp!)

And that’s my rant!