Watch the full ad as it will appear on television.
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is coming under renewed pressure to soften his stance on medical marijuana. Proponents of marijuana reform in Minnesota accuse the governor of pandering to the state’s law enforcement lobby, who adamantly oppose any form of legalization. Minnesotans for Compassionate Care, a medical marijuana advocacy group, is slated to run a televised ad slamming Dayton for his unwillingness to concede on the issue. The press release from Minnesotans for Compassionate Care can be found below.
Full Press Release from Minnesotans for Compassionate Care
ST. PAUL — A television ad slamming Gov. Mark Dayton for standing in the way of effective medical marijuana legislation will premier across Minnesota on Wednesday during the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and the Late Show with David Letterman, then will begin airing Thursday during the Today Show, Good Morning America, Ellen, and The View on stations around Minnesota.
The ad features Angela Garin and her five-year-old son, Paxton, who suffers from a rare condition that causes hundreds of seizures per day. Garin describes how medical marijuana reduced Paxton’s seizures by 88% during a trip to Oregon, where it was legal for him to access it. She chides Gov. Dayton for holding up a measure that would allow Paxton to get medical marijuana at home in Minnesota. At the end of the ad, she says, “[Her] family deserves better, Minnesota deserves better,” and urges viewers to “Tell Gov. Dayton to support Paxton and stop blocking access to medical marijuana.”
Patients and advocates who met with Gov. Dayton at his residence on March 13 will hold a media availability on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. CT outside the governor’s office, just prior to delivering to his office a Change.org petition signed by more than 4,900 Minnesotans that calls on him to stop blocking HF 1818. The petition can be viewed online at http://chn.ge/1hyDGXM.
HF 1818, sponsored by Rep. Carly Melin, would allow people suffering from specific debilitating conditions, such as cancer, epilepsy, and HIV/AIDS, access to medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. Gov. Dayton has said he will veto any medical marijuana legislation that does not have the approval of law enforcement associations, which have steadfastly refused to support any workable medical marijuana legislation.v