hemp image via Wikimedia Commons

Yesterday, Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) and Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis) teamed up to introduce a bill that would develop and regulate industrial hemp production in Minnesota.

As it stands now, hemp -- marijuana's big, non-psychoactive sister  -- is banned by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as a controlled substance. But some states, notably North Dakota, have thumbed their noses at the feds and passed laws to license an industry, though they (mostly) continue to wait for a green light to actually grow the stuff.

If Franson and Kahn get their way, Minnesota will be next.

See Also:
- Agriculture: Hemp Jive
- From the archives: High Expectations: Paranoia causes the Legislature to do an about-face on industrial hemp production
- Mary Franson wins recount in belated MNGOP election night success story


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Wikipedia.

The Dept. of Public Safety hasn't provided adequate training for all law enforcement, the report found.

The state should increase its monitoring efforts and be more proactive when it comes to policing law enforcement abuse of motor vehicle records, according to a new report released by the legislative auditor's office.

SEE ALSO:
-Cover: Is Anne Marie Rasmusson too hot to have a driver's license?
-Lawsuits: Dept of Human Services, DNR employees breached private data

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Photo: Tony Nelson for City Pages

Matthew and Gabe Rodreick testified at Monday's hearing.

A bill that scientists say could be key to furthering spinal cord injury research in Minnesota passed its first committee hearing Monday afternoon.

Introduced by Sen. Jeff Hayden, DFL-Minneapolis, the proposed legislation would designate $8 million from the state's general fund to curative spinal cord and traumatic brain injury research over a period of two years. Among those testifying at the Health, Human Services and Housing hearing Monday was the bill's namesake, Gabe Rodreick, who sustained a devastating spinal cord injury while body surfing in Costa Rica more than four years ago.

SEE ALSO: Sen. Jeff Hayden introduces spinal cord injury research bill

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Photo: Tony Nelson, City Pages.

The $4 million would go toward curative spinal cord research in Minnesota.

Sen. Jeff Hayden introduced a bill at a capitol press conference this afternoon that would appropriate $4 million in state funds to be used for curative spinal cord research in Minnesota.

The subject of this week's cover story, the bill was inspired by the story of Gabe Rodreick, a 20-year-old from south Minneapolis who suffered a devastating spinal cord injury while body surfing in Costa Rica. The bill is named after Rodreick and Jack Jablonski, a Benilde-St. Maraget's student injured during a hockey game a year ago.

"I used to be a piano player," said Rodreick at the press conference. "To be able to play piano again would be a dream."

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Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek (left) and Judge Jay Quam want Minnesota lawmakers to take on the intersection of gun violence and mental illness.

A coalition led by Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek demanded in a capitol press conference Wednesday that lawmakers take up reform on the intersection of the mentally ill and "extreme gun violence" in Minnesota.

SEE ALSO:
COVER: Civil commitment leaves mentally ill languishing
Judge presses Dept of Human Services on civil commitment troubles

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The cardboard sign on the right reads, "Make the Safety Net Safe."

The Minnesota Legislature kicked off the 2013-2014 biennium today at noon. Which means that marching protestors arrived on the Capitol steps at 11:30.

See Also:
- Take Back the Capitol protests end today
- Cover: When will gay marriage be legal in Minnesota?
- Marijuana legalization bill could come before DFL-controlled legislature this session


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Dibble plans to introduce the bill later in the session, which begins next week.

Sen. Scott Dibble hopes a few Republicans will come out in favor of legalizing gay marriage this year, but if they don't, he believes a bill can still pass.

Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, plans to introduce a marriage equality bill into the Senate this session, he says. There hasn't been an internal vote count yet, but he estimates that if the votes aren't there yet among the DFL majority, "we are very close."

SEE ALSO:
COVER: When will gay marriage be legal in Minnesota?
Gay marriage amendment defeated in Minnesota

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Vikings punter Chris Kluwe plans to extend a formal invite to Mary Franson.

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe wants to debate Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, over her opposition to gay marriage.

SEE ALSO:
Rep. Mary Franson: Chris Kluwe wants "to undermine traditional values"
Chris Kluwe playing bass at Music for Marriage Equality benefit tonight

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Photo: Minnesota State Fair.

Is it finally time for Minnesota to overturn its Sunday liquor store ban?

Yes, according to the majority of State Fair goers who participated in the 2012 Minnesota House of Representatives opinion survey.

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All that money went to influence the people in here

The Vikings don't have to release information on how much money they spent lobbying Minnesota in 2011, but the state's local governments do. Their lobbying tab for last year comes in at $8.3 million, according to a 386-page report released Monday by the state auditor's office. That number's a 0.7 percent, or $55,000, increase in local government lobbying spending from 2010.

Since 2011 was a budget session in the Legislature, versus 2010's shorter bonding session, this increase is low, per State Auditor Rebecca Otto. "It is notable that in 2011, local government lobbying costs remained relatively flat," she said in a statement covered by Pioneer Press.

After all, as the report notes up front, local governments have to make themselves heard. "The operation and funding of local governments can be greatly affected by decisions made by the state Legislature," the report reads. "Therefore, it is understandable that those affected by these decisions would want to have representation during the legislative process."

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