By Shannon Fiecke, Staff Writer

A Jordan grandmother has become a center face in a renewed push to legalize the use of marijuana for chronically or critically ill patients in Minnesota.

Last week’s testimony from Joni Whiting — whose daughter Stephanie used marijuana to relive suffering from melanoma cancer —brought a Senate panel to tears, according to Rep. Mark Buesgens of Jordan, who has signed onto medical marijuana legislation.

The bill, which provides a legal system for the distribution of medical marijuana, has both bi-partisan support and opposition, splitting local lawmakers as well. Similar legislation managed to pass the full Senate last year, but was opposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

A qualifying patient would be allowed 2.5 ounces of medicinal marijuana or 12 marijuana plants. Patients and caregivers would have to possess registry identification cards. If a cardholder sold their identification card or their medicinal marijuana they could be convicted of a felony. Registered organizations would be authorized to grow and supply marijuana to patients and their caregivers.

Whiting initially refused to allow her dying daughter to use marijuana in her home, despite a doctor’s recommendation that it might help curb Stephanie’s nausea when conventional meds had failed. Whiting told the told the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee on Feb. 11 how she relented when she saw her daughter’s appetite improve after three days of marijuana use. It also eased her suffering by enhancing the pain medication.

“My daughter was able to eat for nearly three more months because of marijuana,” Whiting said. “I would rather spend the rest of my life in prison than to have denied her the medicine that kept her pain at bay and allowed her to live 89 more days.

Because the federal government bans marijuana, decriminalizing it for medical purposes in Minnesota wouldn’t prevent federal agents from arresting users here—one reason why the legislation is opposed by Senator Claire Robling of Jordan.

“It sends a horribly mixed set of messages to residents, to drug dealers, to law enforcement, and most importantly, to our children, if we say that it is okay to violate federal drug laws, and we say it is okay for some people, but not others to buy or grow marijuana,” Robling, a Jordan Republican, said in a letter to constituents who’ve contacted her on the issue.

President Barack Obama, however, has indicated that federal resources shouldn’t go toward fighting medical marijuana use.

The Minnesota bill is supported by several other legislators who represent Scott County, including DFL Senator John Doll of Burnsville, as well as Buesgens, a Republican, and DFL Reps. Will Morgan of Burnsville and David Bly of Northfield, also co-authors in the House.

When he was contacted by Whiting about the issue, Buesgens put the woman in touch with medical marijuana advocates, who arranged for her to testify. He said the legislation has attracted the support of libertarian-minded lawmakers, as well as legislators who’ve had personal experiences with a critically ill person.

Buesgens said his own mother, who passed away 1.5 years ago from lung cancer, was too weak to eat in her last weeks of life. She never asked for medical marijuana to ease her pain, but Buesgens believes it should have been an option. If a doctor could dope her up on morphine, why not allow medical marijuana? he asked.

In an e-mail, Rep. Paul Kohls of Victoria said he continues to have serious reservations about such legislation, because of issues surrounding distribution of medical marijuana, but he hasn’t had a chance to read this year’s version and he understands some changes have been made.