by Rachel E. Stassen-Berger

Minnesota backers of letting critically ill patients use marijuana without fear of arrest have launched a statewide television advertisement campaign.

The first spot from the Marijuana Policy Project features Lynn Rubenstein Nicholson of Minneapolis who fell through a ceiling when she was ten years old and has suffered extreme pain ever since.

In the ad, Nicholson talks about how marijuana has helped her find relief.

"I'm tired of being a criminal," she said. At a Capitol news conference, Nicholson, 49, said she has used it for pain relief when she's been able for the past 30 years, but she is not now using marijuana.

The Minnesota House this year is considering a proposal that would give people with cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, hepatitis C, Tourette syndrome, other chronic or debilitating diseases or intractable pain a means of obtaining and using marijuana without being subject to arrest. Minnesota users could still be penalized under federal law.

The Minnesota Senate passed the measure last year so if the House passes it, the bill would go to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's desk.

Pawlenty has said he would veto the bill because law enforcement does not support it.

Neal Lavine, director of state campaigns for the Marijuana Policy Project, said he is hopeful the measure will pass the House in the next few weeks but passage is not assured.

The ad featuring Nicholson is one of a series that the marijuana backers hope to run.

To see the ad, click here.