Minnesota Doctor Group Nods to House Medical Pot Bill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Medical Association is putting its weight behind the House version of a bill to legalize medical marijuana.

The MMA stopped short of saying it supported the legislation in writing to the House sponsor. But the group called the House proposal "a more useful, measured approach" than the Senate's.

The MMA praised the House bill for establishing a research program on marijuana's effects when used as medicine. The group also said the bill is good because it relieves doctors of having to certify or recommend marijuana for patients.

The MMA says the Senate bill is too broad, prematurely labels marijuana as "medication" and wrongly puts doctors in position of certifying that marijuana can help some patients.

The House was debating its bill Friday. The Senate already passed its proposal.