BEMIDJI, Minn. - Gov. Mark Dayton’s office on Thursday announced the appointment of 16 members of the state’s newly created Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research.
The state Legislature legalized medical marijuana use in the 2014 session and set up a program to study its effects. The task force includes members from health care and law enforcement fields, as well as the general public.
“Gov. Dayton appointed members to this task force who would represent a diverse array of viewpoints and experiences, and ensure this program is implemented both safely and effectively,” Dayton spokesman Matt Swenson said in a statement.
Health care provider representatives on the task force are Dr. Dawn Wyllie of Bemidji, Dr. Charles Reznikoff of Minneapolis and Doreen McIntyre of Champlin.
Law enforcement members appointed are James Franklin of St. Paul representing the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, Chief David Kolb of Champlin as Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association representative, James Backstrom of Hastings as Minnesota County Attorneys Association representative and Dennis Flaherty of St. Paul as Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association representative.
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Substance abuse treatment members of the task force are Karina Forrest of White Bear Township, Dr. Vincent Hayden of Minneapolis, David Hartford of St. Cloud and Dr. Pamela Gonzalez of Minneapolis.
Laura Schwartzwald of Aitkin was appointed as a pharmacist member. Consumer members are Duane Bandel of Minneapolis and Sarah Wellington of St. Paul.
Parent members are Maria Botker of Clinton and Jeremy Pauling of Montevideo.
The task force runs through Jan. 5.
