By Phil Riske, managing editor | Rose Law Group Reporter
Taxpayer dollars would not be used to fund medical marijuana research at the University of Arizona, despite claims by Sen. Kimberly Yee, asserts Ryan Hurley, director of Rose Law Group Medical Marijuana Dept.
“Senator Yee is either misinformed or misrepresenting the facts,” Hurley said. “The truth is not one dime of taxpayer dollars is at stake here.”
The Yellow Sheet Report says Yee has refused to be interviewed about a recall movement against her because she blocked funding for research into the effects of medical marijuana on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), but in a statement Monday, she insisted her critics have distorted the intent of HB2333 and her reasons for not hearing it in the Senate Education Committee. The bill would permit revenues from medical marijuana certification fees to be used in the research.
Hurley took issue with Yee’s claim she previously received assurances from supporters of marijuana research that funding would come from the feds or private donations – not the state.
“Today, they have turned their story around and have broken their promise. My voting record shows I support veterans and research. This is about how we should use limited state resources and be wise stewards of our taxpayer dollars,” she said.
The Yellow Sheet noted the FY15 budget deal, in fact, includes a footnote that additional money for the universities may not be used for medical marijuana research.
Hurley says the funds in question have been generated exclusively from patient and dispensary fees.
“This nearly $6 million must, by law, be used to further the medical marijuana program and cannot be diverted to the state’s General Fund,” he said. “Taxpayer dollars are not at stake, the lives of our veterans, however, very much are. Our veterans deserve this scientific research.”
Yee refused to return calls from the Yellow Sheet to explain what difference it makes if the funding came from the feds or the state
Additionally, Yee assumes marijuana research might lead to its widespread use.
