Minnesota House Approves Medical Pot Bill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota House has passed a bill that would legalize marijuana use for medical reasons but under tighter restrictions than a bill overwhelmingly passed by the Senate earlier in the week.

Friday's 86 to 39 vote was after some debate over whether the House should adopt a measure almost identical to the Senate proposal.

But Majority Leader St. Paul Democrat Rep. Erin Murphy swayed her colleagues. She told them the fate of more expansive medical-marijuana bills sent to previous administrations: They were vetoed.

The bill heads to the Senate and would legalize s medical pot in pill, oil and vapor form to patients from three state dispensaries.

Law enforcement and the Minnesota Medical Association do not oppose the bill. Gov. Mark Dayton has not yet offered his position.