ST. PAUL / PANEL APPROVES MEDICAL MARIJUANA

In the first step of a long process, a bill to give critically ill
patients the state's OK to use marijuana received a Minnesota Senate
health committee's approval Wednesday.

The bill, which has both Democratic and Republican sponsors, moves
on to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An identical House measure has
yet to begin its journey through the Legislature.

The measure won some legislative support Wednesday, but it also drew
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's opposition.

The governor, like many in law enforcement, has not been supportive
of measures that would allow Minnesotans to use marijuana for medical reasons.