Kathy Engstrom of Rogers, hugged her son Nolan, 16, who has epilepsy and suffers from daily seizures. She said cannabis has helped reduce seizures and improved quality of life for others with that condition.

Kristy Pauling held her daughter Katelyn's hand during the hearing. Katelyn, 7, has epilepsy and Batten's Disease. Pauling said others with this condition have benefited from medical marijuana.

Voting against the proposal were Republican senators Julie Rosen of Fairmont, Carla Nelson of Rochester and Democrat Chris Eaton of Brooklyn Center. They called for more time for studies to be done.

Senator Scott Dibble answered Sen Carla Nelson's assertion that Minnesota would become "the Wild West of medicine" with a 16-page study on cannabis by the Mayo Clinic.