MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILLS MOVE AHEAD

ST. PAUL -- Bills making it legal for severely ill Minnesotans to use
marijuana to ease their pain continues moving through the House and
Senate.

Both bills await further committee hearings after passing earlier
tests.

The Senate version passed the Judiciary Committee 4-3 Tuesday
night.

"I am increasingly confident that this will be the year that
Minnesota joins the 13 other states that have acted to protect
medical marijuana patients from arrest," said bill sponsor Sen. Steve
Murphy, DFL-Red Wing. "This is an issue where science, compassion and
simple common sense come together."

Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, sponsors the House bill. A House
Civil Justice Committee hearing is expected soon.