Minnesota  Gov. Tim Pawlenty earns this distinction for vetoing the state's medical-marijuana bill on May 22. Despite the bill being significantly watered down, the two-term, born-again Republican refused to sign it into law.

Pawlenty says he's "sympathetic to those dealing with end-of-life illnesses," but believes marijuana poses "serious public safety and health risks," and that legalizing it, even as a medicine, "could serve to compound these problems."

On Apr. 29, the Minnesota Senate voted 36-28 in favor of SF-97 that allowed patients or caregivers to grow 12 plants and possess 2.5 ounces. On May 18, however, the House voted 70-64 for a more restrictive bill that did not allow patients to grow and was for the terminally ill only. The state would have been responsible to create dispensaries.

Pawlenty, who was barely reelected in 2006, set a single-year record for vetoes in 2008. If he decides to run for a third term in 2010, stoners and patients should veto Pawlenty right out of office.


Also see:

Medical Marijuana on the Move

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