Co-Author of Medical Marijuana Bill Hired by Marijuana Company

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A state lawmaker who pushed Minnesota's medical marijuana law has taken a job at one of the state's medical marijuana manufacturers.

Rep. Dan Schoen will take a leave from his job as a Cottage Grove police officer and join LeafLine Labs as a security consultant. The Cottage Grove Democrat co-authored the legislation and helped connect LeafLine with city officials in his district.

The company built its production facility in Cottage Grove.

It's LeafLine's second high-profile hire that raises questions of impropriety. The company recently poached a state official instrumental in getting Minnesota's medical marijuana off the ground.

Schoen wouldn't disclose his pay to the Star Tribune on Wednesday. He says it's hard to say whether he would have gotten the job if not for his work on the law.