Medical marijuana bills move ahead

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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.

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