Survey May Paint Clearer Picture of Medical Marijuana Demand

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - State health officials want to know how many Minnesotans want medical marijuana and where they live.

The state has struggled to answer those questions ahead of the new program's launch in July. The Minnesota Department of Health thinks they'll have about 5,000 patients but other estimates put it at 15,000 or more.

The health department released an electronic survey Tuesday to gather information from interested Minnesotans. It's available until Feb. 6.

Results from that survey may be used tweak possible locations for the eight dispensaries scattered across the state. The state's two manufacturers have tentatively proposed dispensary sites in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Eagan, Maple Grove, St. Cloud, Hibbing, Rochester and Moorhead.

Lawmakers legalized medical marijuana for a handful of conditions like cancer, HIV and AIDS last year.