by Laura Kennedy

The bill would allow qualifying patients to be prescribed two and a half ounces of usable marijuana to ease symptoms like severe nausea, pain and muscle spasms. Several people who testified in favor of this legislation say medical marijuana gave their family members relief from debilitating medical conditions.

"Two puffs, two minutes, and the violent sickness was totally gone, said Kathy Rippentrop, a citizen advocate. "An hour later, Mom was able to have a good meal. The stomach problems from the chemo were totally gone. It also helped her regain a quality of life that allowed her to continue to fight."

Other citizens were concerned that legalizing marijuana for medical purposes would make it difficult for law enforcement to control illegal use of the drug. But Duluth Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon, whose husband Sam Solon died of cancer seven years ago, says that wouldn't be an issue under this legislation.

"We're not talking about getting people hooked on drugs and then going out in the street and, you know, destroying their lives and passing it on to other people," said Prettner Solon. "We're talking about end of life issues—a last resort for people's suffering."

The bill will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee next. A date for that hearing has not been set, but the bill has to be out of policy committees by April 7th.